The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Dilrukshi Wickramasinghe has been charged for corruption. A formal complaint in this regard was lodged to the Chairman of the Commission today.
Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe
Director General for prevention of Bribery and Corruption
In his complaint, Public Interest Rights Activist and lawyer, Nagananda Kodituwakku accused Wickramasinghe of abusing her position to suppress and/or ignore the credible and plausible complaint made to her on 26th August 2016, against the Members of Parliament (both elected and appointed through the National List after being defeated at the General Election) in the ruling coalition and also in the opposition, who have abused their office to confer benefit and/or favour for themselves and/or others which is a punishable offence under Section 70 of the Bribery Act.
The said complaint, made against the abuse of tax-free permits by the MPs has been supported by overwhelming evidence of abuse of tax-free car permits by MPs for unjust enrichment. In the said complaint, it was mentioned that these permits have been issued in the public interest, facilitating the MPs to discharge their public office effectively, in terms of Section 3C of the Excise Special Provisions Act No 8 of 1994.
Activist Kodituwakku states that the investigation conducted by him into this fraud has revealed that these tax-free permits are sold in the open market for exorbitant sums, and in most cases for Rs. 25 million or more. The motorcar importers who purchase these permits import vehicles defrauding the entire tax component and the buyers of such vehicles register them under their names, immediately after effecting the first registration in the name of the MPs at the Department of Motor Traffic.
Kodituwakku also pointed out that most of the buyers who have bought these vehicles are reluctant to effect simultaneous transfers in their names at the Department of Motor Traffic, obviously to evade being caught in the offensive act. And instead they use the vehicle in the name of the permit holder MPs, which is also a punishable offence under Section 12 of the Motor Traffic Act.
The Activist has informed the Chairman of the Commission that he submitted a similar complaint dated 11th December 2014 made to the Commission and that too was ignored, and this dismal failure on the part of the Corruption Commission has effectively led to the breakdown of the rule of law, concerning bribery and corruption. The Chairman of the Commission has been informed that breakdown of the rule of law is such that some MPs have even resorted to take legal action, against the the buyers of their vehicles for not settling the full purchase price agreed upon, despite their selling of the vehicle (imported on a tax-free permit) itself is an illegal act.
The activist says that this gross abuse of public funds by the MPs has reached an unimaginable scale, incurring a huge loss of revenue of over Rs 7.875 billion as the government is made to lose Rs 35 million for each vehicle in this despicable and unlawful act, while the buyer of the permit only pays Rs 1650/- for each vehicle. Supporting the complaint with a report that he had furnished to the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, requesting registration details of the MP permit vehicles, the activist states that the tax component so defrauded is shared between the MP (Rs 25 million) and the car importer (Rs 10 million) who buys the permit.
In the formal complaint made against the Wickramasinghe, Kodituwakku states that the absence of accountability process in this country has already come under scrutiny by the United Nations Human Rights Council, compelling the Government of Sri Lanka to concede that the people have no trust and confidence in the administration of justice and persuading it to co-sponsor the Resolution (A/HRC/RES/30/1) passed on 01st Oct 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The activist says that the Government of Sri Lanka has been forced into this embarrassing position and disrepute, due to the failures of this nature by those who hold high public offices at the expense of the general public. He also highlighted that in Sri Lanka the lawmakers of Sri Lanka have become lawbreakers and their deceitful fraudulent actions are being shielded by the ignorance and inaction of the CIABOC, openly betraying the trust placed in it by the people of Sri Lanka.
Therefore, Kodituwakku, has requests the Chairman of the Commission to order an immediate investigation into the abuse of office by Mrs Dilruskshi Wirckaramasinghe, the Director General, for ignoring her statutory duty, which renders her incapable of performing her duties as the Director General of the CIABOC and also to initiate a credible investigation in terms of Section 4 of the Act No 19 of 1994, into the complaint dated 26th August 2016 made against the corrupt MPs for the abuse of their office for unjust enrichment.
shankar / September 27, 2016
good on you naga.Dilrukshi should join arjuna mahendran.Lets see whether ranil will try to protect her too.Then we will know whose instructions she follows.
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S.Modaya / September 27, 2016
The corrupt tax free party at the Diyawenna Oya must end.
All Sri Lankans should refuse to pay income tax as long as the corrupt politicians have tax free cars and lives while loading VAT onto the working masses.
Politicians should have to reveal their tax payments and assets before anyone pays income tax.
Time for a Boston Tea party style protest against unfair taxation by the bloodsucking politicians in Miracle of Modayas!
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mj / September 29, 2016
If she doing so!that’s corruption. .put her in jail. There is plenty of people to do an better job..
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len / September 30, 2016
Very convenient for RW to be visiting New Zealand to check out the Elephant’s in the Auckland Zoo. Better than checking the elephant in the room.
John Key will sure to promise more opportunities for Sri Lankans in New Zealand to fill low paid jobs in supermarkets, restaurants, Petrol stations, dairy farms.
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anonymous / September 27, 2016
“The activist says that this gross abuse of public funds by the MPs has reached an unimaginable scale, incurring a huge loss of revenue of over Rs 7.875 billion as the government is made to lose Rs 35 million for each vehicle in this despicable and unlawful act, while the buyer of the permit only pays Rs 1650/- for each vehicle.”
My dear Nagi,
Ranil, MY3 and Jarapaksa Clan have found a ‘Miracle Substance’ which is much more valuable and demanding than ‘Arabian White Gold’ (oil) in abundance under the sea-bed near ‘Hambanthota’ while the world’s largest oil producer Saudi Arabia is finding it difficult to make ends meet.
“A cabinet statement and royal decree broadcast on state-run Ekhbariya TV on Monday said Saudi Arabia will cut ministers’ salaries by 20 percent and scale back financial perks for public sector employees”.
Opinion: Saudi Arabia: Reform comes with social responsibility
“It was the first announcement of pay cuts for government employees, who make up about two-thirds of working Saudis”.
Housing and car allowances for members of the appointed Shoura Council will be cut by 15 percent. Overtime bonuses were curbed at between one-quarter and half of basic salaries, while annual leave may now no longer exceed 30 days”.
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KA Sumanasekera / September 27, 2016
Batalanada Ranil, the PM boasted that Ms Dilrukshi is a dear personal friend, after she was appointed by the independent Yahapalana commission.
HeHeHeHeHeeeeeeee…
No wonder Batalanda’s mates , specially the one in Kalutara who even bought Merchant Ships for the family trust, with his Ministerial allowance never got a call from Ms Dilrukshi.
Neither did Aloysious or the Father in Law or for that matter,.who have produced 500 % ROI for their shareholders to the tune of LKR 5000 Million pure profit in just 12 months of Trading Yahapalana Bonds..
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timbuttu / September 29, 2016
KA Sumanasekera ,
What we need is a rendition center.
Bittara rakena (hatchery) Ben,: SAYS:
“”I repeat, Nagandanda Kodituwakku for Presidnet!””
Gnanasara, is respected by India for good qualities that we and his one off Norwegian funder observe.
Silence! Reason and altruism are incompatible
Buddha-nature begins where the rational level ends.
Bittara rakena (hatchery) Ben, to marry Kim
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Ranbandu / September 29, 2016
Hi Sumanasekera;
Corruption breeds corruption; There is no difference between the graduates of “SWRDB School Corruption” and “JRJ School of Corruption”.
The actions of coterie of Mr. Batalanda is highly questionable and despicable. However, What else can you expect from a Machiavellian, he will blame the media for reporting the excesses and corruption of his henchmen.
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Ben Hurling / September 27, 2016
I repeat, Nagandanda Kodituwakku for Presidnet!
Cheers!
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anonymous / September 27, 2016
I will be happy to be his ‘Chauffer’ just for food and lodging and a resident/work permit.
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shankar / September 27, 2016
i will be happy to be his houseboy and change my name to silva or perera.
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Cynthia / September 28, 2016
Jaya wewa !
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2016
Ben Hurling
“I repeat, Nagandanda Kodituwakku for Presidnet!”
Who will be there to protest as Public Interest Rights Activist against President Nagandanda Kodituwakku?
He is doing a good job. Please refrain from corrupting him.
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tatcher / September 29, 2016
“”He is doing a good job. Please refrain from corrupting him.””
Bittara rakena (hatchery) Ben, IS TO MARRY Kim Jong-un.
Scotland cuts on international development funding.
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Uthungan / September 28, 2016
I will gladly second your proposal.
But will he consent and would the masses vote for him?
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Plato. / September 27, 2016
Ben Hurling.
I repeat Nagananda Kodituwakku for His Excellency The President!
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Dragos / September 29, 2016
4TH WORLD DESPERADOES LANKAWE AHEMA THAMA WOULD END UP LIKE VALENZUELA.
For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Only a `formal complaint` has been lodged by Naga…
The dirge that they all sing at truth’s funeral is:
`I am entirely right and you are entirely wrong`
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justice / September 27, 2016
This complaint which is valid, will probably be ignored, as the supreme court has earlier ruled that this matter is NOT in public interest.
Dilrushi too, cannot offend our lawmakers/breakers, as she would not like any opposition when her name is proposed to ascend to the next ‘rung’ of the ‘judicial ladder’.
Our lawmakers, thus would recoup at least a part of their election expenses.
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Ranjan Fernando / September 27, 2016
Good on you Naga.
Well done. Hope this will shake up the law makers.
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shankar / September 28, 2016
ranjan,they must be shaking with laughter.This is srilanka,not the west.
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Douglas / September 27, 2016
I agree with “Modaya”. Having said that, it is fair and reasonable to examine how far the Bribery Commission be made responsible to this decision of a “Day Light” robbery and corruption by the Government. It is the Cabinet and the Government who decided to grant the permits and also gave a FREE HAND in disposing it by way of a SALE and collect this enormous wealth. A precedent had been created by the Supreme Courts in rejecting the petition of Mr. Nahgananda re. this same subject. Therefore I don’t think the Bribery Commission would go into this matter at all. Yet if a MP had sold and recoup a net wealth in million, then it is a matter to see whether he/she (MP) and the buyer would declare in his declaration of “Asset & Liabilities”. If that is not done, it is a matter for the Bribery Commission. However the best thing to do is NOT TO VOTE any of those MPs who got Duty Car Permits in the forthcoming elections. Will it happen? I doubt, because even the voters are waiting to get hand outs such as Three Wheeler Tires, Sil Redi (Devotees Clothes), Umbrellas, Wall Clocks, Roofing Sheets, bags of Cement, Pipes etc. from these bastards who contest to enter Parliament. If that is not happening, as per “Modaya” don’t pay taxes; but Indirect Taxes will have to be paid by the voters and that what is happening even now.
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shankar / September 27, 2016
“cannot offend our lawmakers/breakers”
ask her to get out if she can’t offend law breakers just because they are law makers.She is letting down the country and should not continue in her job.
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Siribiris / September 28, 2016
Can you give a list of MPs who sold their tax-free vehicle permits? By doing this we could at least minimize the number of rogues who try to enter parliament?
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Jay / September 28, 2016
[Edited out]
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KA Sumanasekera / September 28, 2016
Here is something for Yahapalana suckers to ponder ..
Is Nagananda more powerful than the Sripanvan’s High Court.
Put it another way, can Naga changes things which Sripavan can’t.
I am just pondering it myself, after watching that debate about Sripavan’s HC decision on the crooked Yahapalana Coal deal..
And how the UNP Minister had the balls to tell the Prime Time TV watchers in Colombo, that Kiriella’s UNP COPE Report and the Audit is the real deal.
And it is what Batalanada is using to pump out Yahapalana Power using substandard coal bought at a higher price to feed Noricholi .
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2016
KASmaalam KA Sumanasekera
“And it is what Batalanada is using to pump out Yahapalana Power using substandard coal bought at a higher price to feed Noricholi .”
Here is some points for you to ponder. Note when this was published the smart ass patriots were in absolute power.
Champika says Lanka Coal has not followed tender procedure since 2012
October 24, 2014
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday maintained that since 2012 the Lanka Coal Company (LCC) which was the sole importer of coal to Sri Lanka had been doing so without adhering to proper tender procedure.
Minister Ranawaka was responding to the Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi at a press conference held at his Ministry premises yesterday.
It was reported that the Minister Wanniarachchi as having said that the CID had commenced investigations into a recently imported consignment of coal for the Norochcholai Power Plant.
According to Wanniarachchi two ships which brought coal in September 2012 could not unload full consignments owing to inclement weather. “Therefore an agreement was reached with the supplier to sell the 85,891 MT coal consignment and supply Sri Lanka a similar quantity of coal conforming to the same standards at the same price subsequently; besides an urgent tender for five shipments of coal was awarded to recover the loss incurred.
Minister Ranawaka said that the Lanka Coal Company which was set up in 2009 was the only legally approved company to import coal to Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Shipping Corporation (SLSC) was only supplying the transportation.
He also noted that the LCC was imported coal from Nobel Company.
But in the said incident the SLSC had imported the coal without the knowing of Ceylon Electricity Board or Power and Energy Ministry and the coal was imported from Taurian Iron and Steel Company (Pvt) Ltd (TISCL) during rough seas when there was no proper environment to unload the coal and the imported coal was also not up to the required standard.
However the Minister noted that he had immediately called a meeting with the relevant official and urged them to reject the consignment of coal. But finally they unloaded coal on the instructions of the Attorney General.
He alleged that former Chairman of LCC, T.M. Herath was removed from his position as he was unable to obey his instructions.
“But after I left the office in 2012 he was reappointed as the Vice Chairman of CEB,” he said.
Ranawaka said the instant highlighted was just one incident but there were lots of other huge corrupt deals occurring in the country at present, therefore the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) urged the government to set up a special constitutional authority to look into those corrupt deals.
Minister Ranawaka called on the government to conduct of a thorough investigation into the incident and to take legal action against the culprits impartially.
There was a huge entrenched mafia in the power industry and there was a powerful group of white collar criminals behind that mafia, he charged.
island.lk
I wonder if you have anything else to ponder.
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KA Sumanasekera / September 28, 2016
Dear Native,
Why do you keep harking back to find excuses to protect Batalanada Ranil and his Central Bank Mafia and now Power Mafia.
Chamapakaya is now with Batalanada . Isn’t he?.
So why no send Batalanada’s F*******CID to take out the crooks whom you have named.
Or is it asking too much from your Good Governance Yahapalanaya.
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Bruno Umbato / September 29, 2016
Dear Native V,
Read the following article written in 2011 and make up your mind regarding your hon PaCha Ranawaka. It was very smelly scandal covered by PaCha until Panama papers leak. Even after Panama papers, he covered whole scandal with his usual tactics using people’s short time memory ….
Pa.Cha.R is a very dubious character with the lowest level of morality in present day ministers.
What do Native Vadda think about this 2100 article?
Island article published on 20/12/2011 about former CEB chairman Vidaya Dilruk Amrapala (pa.cha. appointed him as chairman, he is his batchmate) who is 47th in the Panama paper scandal list …. This is LONG TIME BEFORE Panama papers and when Pa. Cha. Ranawaka was energy/power minister of last government. Iftham Nizam had done excellent job in exposing this corrupt PaCha in 2011.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=41578
CEB charade continues over dubious Rs 3 billion supply contract December 20, 2011, 12:00 pm article_image By Ifham Nizam
CEB officials have questioned Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka as to how the former Chairman of CEB Vidya Amarapala signed over a power supply contract worth more than Rs. 3,000 million to a company called Aggreko in 2011. Under Government Tender Guidelines, this contract should have been evaluated by a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. However, Ranawaka’s confidante Amarapala had not only negotiated this contract single-handedly with Aggreko, but has also given several concessions as well, CEB sources not wanting to be named point out. When the CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) complained to the Power and Energy Secretary, M. M. C. Ferdinando about this highly irregular deal, he had by his letter dated March 29, 2011 called for explanations from Amarapala as to how this contract signed violating Government Tender Guidelines. Ranawaka had then submitted a Cabinet Paper seeking covering approval for the contract, claiming that his Ministry was forced to extend the Aggreko contract by one more year since it was necessary to continue the power supply in the Jaffna Peninsula. When Ranawaka took over the Ministry of Power and Energy in May 2010, the existing contract of Aggreko was to expire on December 31, 2010. However, Minister Ranawaka had openly declared on several occasions that the two existing power supply contracts in Jaffna, with Aggreko and Northern Power, were corrupt. Vidya Amarapala stated at a media conference held at the Ministry in May 2011 that he had no choice but to extend the Aggreko contract for another year because CEB officials concerned did not inform him until the last moment that the existing Aggreko contract would expire on December 31, 2011. He also claimed that the contract with the other company Northern Power was corrupt as an unnamed official was behind that contract signed in 2009. However, the Northern Power contract had been approved by the Cabinet after CEB had adhered to proper tender procedures. “Amarapala had not given any explanation in response to Secretary Ferdinando’s letter. The Ministry has not even issued a letter of warning to Amarapala for this serious act of corruption, let alone taking any other action against him,” a senior official said. He says under Government rules, this matter should have been reported to the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption. Minister Ranawaka was forced to remove Amarapala and his two colleagues Roshan Gunawardane and Douglas Premaratne in June this year under pressure from CEB trade unions. Be that as it may, The Island Financial Review has learned that Amarapala’s successor Prof. Wimaladarma Abeywickrema too has extended the Aggreko Contract for another year from January 1, 2012. What is interesting in this case is that CEB had called for open tenders in September 2011 and closed the tenders on October 17, 2011. The Cabinet approval for this tender was expected in end-November, leaving only one month for the prospective tenderers to commence commercial operation on January 1, 2011. Needless to say, this timeline of the CEB has made it impossible for any new entrant to acquire and instal the necessary equipment, including generators, oil storage facilities and grid connection, by allowing only one month to complete all that work. The million dollar question is why Chairman Abeywickrema delayed calling this tender this time as well, when he could have allowed sufficient time for prospective suppliers to submit competitive bids. The present Chairman cannot claim that he too was told at the last moment by CEB officials that the existing Aggreko contract his predecessor Amarapala signed would expire on December 31, 2011. Aggreko had been virtually guaranteed another year, as CEB may not have anticipated another supplier willing to adhere to this near-impossible time targets. Much to the surprise of everyone, The Island Financial Review has learned that several bidders have submitted offers that were cheaper than the offer of Aggreko. One such bidder is a company listed officially under the Ministry of Power and Energy having much experience in constructing and operating several private power plants in Sri Lanka and abroad. However, for reasons best known to the CEB Chairman Abeywickrema, he and his Vice Chairman have extended the Aggreko contract till 2012 after cancelling the above tender. The present Vice Chairman Anura Wijayapala is a batch mate of Minister Ranawaka from the University of Moratuwa. Senior CEB officials claim that the whole charade of calling tenders was only a laughable attempt by the present CEB Chairman to say that CEB made an attempt to adhere to competitive bidding this time around, when he had already decided to award the tender to Aggreko anyhow.
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jim softy / September 28, 2016
Both Mahinda Rajapakse and Ranil wickramsinghe are Alibabas. They feed and raise the forty thieves who let these alibabas govern without any problems.
Ranil appoints FCID. Ranil appoints Bribary Commission. They investigate only those who do not behave and do not listen.
If Naganada says he would forget every thing for something in return like the way, Transparency International did, every thing will change.
What happend to the COPE investigation of Central Bank Scandle.
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Lester / September 28, 2016
Rather than tax-free permits to import cars, there should be a bureau to oversee the importation of a fixed number of cars within some time period. The bureau should receive some fixed allowance and then assign cars to politicians as necessary. Of course the tax-free permits have turned into a big racket; the asset is at least 10x the salary of an MP! Clearly there is no mechanism in place to ensure the permits are not abused, increasing the likelihood of fraud.
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Gamarala / September 28, 2016
Well done Naga. Even though this may not successful due to Supreme Court ruling there are other ways to continue this protest.
Most importantly the general public should be awakened to the fact that the revenue lost to the country through this highway robbery by MPs could be used to build universities factories etc to the benefit of their children.
Protests could be through on line petitions peaceful campaigns that do not disturb public life etc.
UNTIL & UNLESS PEOPLE IDENTIFY & VOTE THESE ROGUES OUT OF PARLIAMENT THIS INFAMOUS PRACTICE WILL CONTINUE.
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BBS Rep / September 28, 2016
Well done Naga. Keep the thieving bastards on their toes.
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Kugan / September 28, 2016
I think Maharaja tied all the officials hands and instruct to do their way without choice.
Even if they spilled it out the truth can’t proof them.their was Gota’s white van culture as well.
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Funlover / September 28, 2016
I feel sorry for dear Dil. She looks like the arecanut in the proverbial crusher – which is the bestial Parliament!
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thondamannay / September 28, 2016
Can you give a list of MPs who sold their tax-free vehicle permits?
Oh !! That (01) banana guy Kullupitiye Serasingalage Sujeewa
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sr / September 28, 2016
Tax payments should be stopped until the top is cleaned.
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Ananda Markalanda / September 28, 2016
Citizen in himself must take a forthright, determined stand against the conditions that surround him, against his own plight. He cannot stand by waiting for others to stand up for his rights while he stands as an observer and looking the other way. And its said so often that freedom is not some lavish dish that the Sudda or government or the white man will pass out on a silver platter while the Sri Lankan merely furnishes the appetite. If democracy is to be a reality, the majority understand and struggle for it, just like Kodituwakku or the least lend him a hand without lethargic and indifferent attitude.. Our country could do better.
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Hela / September 28, 2016
Note Dilrukshi’s salary and emoluments have been increased recently, probably due to her “performance”.
Waiting to read the spin from yahapalana apologists Vishvamitra, Thisaranee,Shyamon Jayasinghe, Jehan et al on this.
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shankar / September 28, 2016
dilrukshi should be remanded and bailed out simultaneously.For her own good a short stint in the cooler will do her a world of good,getting rid of those chubby cheeks.However ranil uncle must not see that food is provided from outside for her.just like for duminda that request should be rejected.
health is wealth.
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No names / September 28, 2016
You guys have a serious problem with Sri Lankan rogues. What about foreign rogues and land-grabbers? Seems to be abuse of superpower going on…
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Bensen Berner / September 28, 2016
Very creditable on the part of Nagananda. Sri Lanka needs more persons of that calibre. Perhaps he is too honest to be a politician and President. Honorable People of that calibre should remain on the sidelines. Bensen
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Raj / September 28, 2016
Dilrukshi is just another loyalist who has been appointed to look after the interest of the rulers. She is not alone in this accepted system of cronyism in SL. I am well aware of a Bandaranaka loyalist, who after retirement, was appointed by CBK’s to head a bribery & corruption dept, promptly selling his brand new car imported on a permit as soon as it landed, netting him a couple millions in the process. This in fact was illegal at the time, yet an accepted practice. He was rewarded primarily to look after CBK’s interests, his duties as the head of dept. being secondary.
I have the highest respect for Nagendra. He reminds me of Ralph Nader who, in the 70s, lobbied against the largest car manufacturer in the world, General Motors, about unsafe cars. Although Nader was professional lobbyist paid for his services, his campaign opened doors to bring lawsuits against faulty designs which prompted manufacturers to prioritize safety aspects of their products. Nagendra’s campaign is commendable & I would support him all the way to end this unfair practice.
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Ajantha / September 29, 2016
This means this woman is corrupt too similar to Batalanda Ranil. His right hand and left hand all are corrupt
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Leon / September 29, 2016
True colours of Sirisena & Ranil are gradually beginning to show now.
There are no differences between these two and the old regime.These three
are the most dishonest rogues in Srilanka politics. Hope they cannot
deceive the voters next time round.
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