By Colombo Telegraph –
Director of Customs Fraud Investigation Division, Ranjan Kanagasabe,taken into custody today whilst accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000,000.00 (One million) He joined the department in 1976 and about to retire in another years time. He was fighting for the Office of the Depurty Director General of Customs (Enforcement) with the help of Namal Rajapaksa, informed sources said.
Villager / January 3, 2013
It’s an open secret that chairman and TO of most Pradeshia Saba demand bribes to approve land sales. Catch them if you can?
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Native Vedda / January 3, 2013
Villager
Godaya
Vattukkottai fame Leela
You must be very happy that Ranjan Kanagasabe, a Tamil is caught red handed.
If proven, with whom did he agree to share the big bribe?
Can you shed some light on this story?
Is there an international conspiracy behind bribe taking and giving?
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Villager / January 3, 2013
A Vedda with a warped mind.
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Native Vedda / January 4, 2013
Villager
Godaya
Thanks for your compliment.
You say:
“A Vedda with a warped mind.”
is useful for lateral thinking.
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Katmai / January 3, 2013
I hope people will not fall for the gov. attempt to get on their good books ahead of the clash. This and the raids on bad food stocks, as if all this is a new thing, is a lame attempt.
Bet they will not be able to mask the next fuel price increase with these gimmicks. Let us see how much more endurance people have in dealing with suffering.
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mutaliph / January 3, 2013
Good Job but remember there are lot of big shark to catch
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J.Zuhry Ahamed / January 3, 2013
Everybody knows how the customs officers earn with the trades. Heads off to the Bribery Commission
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vishvajith / January 3, 2013
Oh, to be in Customs.
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Oh Danny boy / January 3, 2013
WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT NAMAL WAS ALLOCATED FROM THIS AND OTHER TAKES NOT DETECTED, THAT IS THE BIGGEST QUESTION.
COME ON LET US HAVE THE TRUTH RANJAN, WHO ELSE ARE ON THE RECEIVING END?.
YOU CAN BE THE CROWN WITNESS AND YOU WILL BE RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGES.
GOOD LUCK
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Kitu / January 3, 2013
The SL Director General of Customs , Dr. Neville Gunawardena had been suddenly removed from his post on 2nd Dec. and transferred to the Finance Ministry where he is given a post that is sans important tasks because he had been an obstacle to the illicit arrack businesses of the Rajapakse family, according to reports reaching Lanka e news.
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Safa / January 3, 2013
It is an open secret that BR is extracting 10% (now increased) from all contrcators engaged in all these Naguma activities. These should be called BasilNaguma. Why can the police catch him?
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Native Vedda / January 3, 2013
Safa
Don’t be silly.
The Basic Rate (BR) of commission has gone through the roof.
According to sources close to the sources close … BR demands 50% share in all new projects. The investors bring capital, know how and resources into the projects BR brings approval for projects.
So please don’t insult BR.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 7, 2013
it is called B R’S DIVINESUMA ]LIVES KILLING]. FOR PEOPLE.
WITH JARAAPASSAS IN THE ROW,
THERE WILL BE NO DIVI GELAVEEMA.[ NO SAVING OF LIVES.]
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gaje / January 3, 2013
Don’t be naive! We all know that many @ customs take bribes and it would be easy to catch many of them! If NR was backing this guy he would not have been caught! He probably did not give what was demanded!
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whywhy / January 5, 2013
Gaje,stop watching too many hindi films!
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 3, 2013
Just imagine how much these blokes raked in when Container loads merchandise such as Top end Communication gear and even “Logo” type fighter aircrat came in up until 2009?.
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Native Vedda / January 3, 2013
K.A Sumanasekera
Your concern is natural.
If what you say is true, then my concern is with whom did he share what he raked in the above transaction, given that majority of his senior and junior officers are from the 75% majority community.
What is your take on this?
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whywhy / January 5, 2013
Native,what do you think LLRC was set up for?
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Native Vedda / January 6, 2013
whywhy
“Native,what do you think LLRC was set up for?”
There are several reasons for it:
To begin with sanitation of the state from war crime charges.
To sweep the whole issue under the carpet at the same time buy time for not doing what the state was supposed to do.
Hoping other future issues would over take the issues set out to deal in the LLRC.
Essentially LLRC was not a game changer it was meant to bury the real issues.
So don’t fool yourself. LLRC was not meant to dig the truth in the first place.
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Villager / January 4, 2013
Sumane,
Don’t take this Vedda boy seriously for I can visualize he is confused and in conflict with his trait trying hard to come up in the social ladder and forget his kith and kin.
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Native Vedda / January 4, 2013
Villager
Godaya of Vattukkottai fame Leela
“he is confused and in conflict with his trait trying hard to come up in the social ladder and forget his kith and kin.”
Thanks for your concern.
I hate to agree with you, living with stupid Sinhala/Buddhists and stupid Tamil/Saivaites caused this confusion and conflict.
I will be alright if both people left my island.
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Villager / January 4, 2013
Hey Vedda Boy,
Is it from your grandfather that you big headed big talking Vedda boy learned about ‘Kuweni’? I am sure most commentators didn’t want to pick on you for you are what you are. But it has come to the tipping point for me. If you ridicule and throw missiles at others you’ll get back nothing but brickbats.
Sighting things from here and there in our chronicles Vedda boy interject to portray that this is Vedda country and Sinhalas are aliens. He talks s if Vedda has their own source of knowledge to Vedda history. Does he know how many Veddas are there in entire Sri Lanka today who claims to be Veddas for this idiot to ask us Sinhalas to go back to India? Negligible.
So what a stupid demand this Vedda is making time and again? He is a disgrace to famous Tissahamy and his descendants. This stupid man should have known that if not for Mahawamsa no Vedda would ever have know about Kuweni or any of their ancestors. They would only have known the lizards in the jungle.
It is none other than writing in Mahawansa which was compiled in the 5th century by monk Mahanama who based his writing on Deepawamsa and other chronicles that mahavihra monks maintained since 3rd century BCE and Sinhala Attakatha made us aware of the story of Wijya and Kuweni. According to our said chronicles, Vedda chose to stay out of the emerging Sinhala race but in the jungle whereas other tribes Yaksha, Naga, Deva and Raksha joined with descendants of Wijaya to make up the Sinhala nation from the time of Padukabhaya. This was narrated sighting monuments, rock edits and verses from chronicles in a series of discussions over one hundred and fifty part series under the title ‘Sinhale Wansa Kathawa’ in Swarnawahini a few years back with scholars of archaeology and history taking part.
Vedda has reduced their number to few thousands the most not because Sinhalas chopped their heads off or get them killed by gifting small fox ridden towels like Americans did to Red Indians but by their sheer apathy. So what right a solitary Vedda living in some ghetto has to demand Sinhalas go back to India. Sinhalas do not come from India you idiot.
The only available Tamil chronicle of Sri Lanka history that I came across is a book called ‘Yalpana Vaipava Malai’ written by a poet named Mayilvagana Pulavar in 1736 AD translated by Britto doesn’t say anything about Vedda other than recite story of Vijaya from Mahawamsa.
Not that I take this Vedda boy seriously but he must know where he stands. He may be confused and is in conflict with his trait in trying to come up in the social ladder. But he must know that respect come only when respect is given. Perhaps that’s why commentator Wijewickrama has challenged him for his true identity before he reply to Vedda. As for me, I live in a mansion like house in a tranquil setting and drive a latest shogun in Malagala, Padukka; everyone knows me there. I can give you my address in Colombo and that in Battersea Park as well.
Vedda should read how Australians have been treating or rather decimating their Aboriginals in a long letter to Rudrakumaran by one Antany Peter under that article of ‘Two sate Solution ….’
Leela
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Native Vedda / January 6, 2013
Village
Godaya
I envy your vivid imagination.
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Senguttuvan / January 3, 2013
With the advent of opening offree trade under the JRJ Govt in the late 1970s Customs has become a goldmine for crooked officials. Gone are the days when men of uncompromising honesty and integrity like the late M.L.D Caspersz ably lead the department to be followed thereafter
by officials like V.P. Vittachi – who raised a few eyebrows when he joined, on retirement, the private outfit of a notorious financier-tycoon often involved in questionable deals including those avoiding Customs revenue. Insider say recently an official who held a high position there for many years raked an income of Rs.3 million per day. Naturally, for him to remain in the department he may have to play ball with many in the incumbent administration. Earlier, there was the case of the wife of a VVIP openly engaging in smuggling via Containers = using a controversial Customs official as a front. The official lived for years in a 5-star hotel.
The point I am trying to make is that this corruption-rid department should be cleansed in due course of time although even a child knows this is not possible under this regime.
Senguttuvan
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 4, 2013
A story comes to mind. As a child in the 1950’s I was walking past the Wellawatte police station holding her hand. we came across a drunk sprawled on the pavement, oblivious to the world, opposite the station. My grandmother identified him as a Tamil and the son of a Colonial era customs officer, who was a well known bribe taker. She also told me emphatically that this what happens to the children of the corrupt.
The colonial era was also not free of corruption. In fact many in the colonial era became rich and powerful through acts of various sorts against their own people. Some of their descendants became our post-colonial leaders and power brokers.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Native Vedda / January 4, 2013
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
“She also told me emphatically that this what happens to the children of the corrupt.”
Most Tavern owners were Coastal Sinhalese. You may have some idea about what had happened to them in their old age who sold arrack to this Tamil and others.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 4, 2013
Native Vedda,
I am not aware. Please tell the sory.
Dr.R.N
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Patta Pal / January 4, 2013
Now will he rat on the majority in Customs who take bribes, so that the minority who do not, are made to undergo a living hell within the Customs Department. I just hope this once and for all cleans up the Customs completely.
Then business men can go about running their businesses on a level playing field, rather than have to compete with people who have imported under fraudulent documents, paying a lower or no duty, due to corruption by Customs.
Let us see if this really happens!
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Patta Pal / January 4, 2013
When you start taking bribes, there are enough people who want to hit you for some of the take. When they are powerful people and are not getting enough, they can rat on you so the others from whom he is raking will not try the same! It is all a very vicious cycle of bribes, protection money, tax fraud. It is a shame the extent of the scandal does not get the press it deserves to be cleaned up and the state to receive the correct taxes due.
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Oh Danny boy / January 4, 2013
I WAS MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS COMING UNDER THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND THAT GOTA BAYA GULLA HAS ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TOP POSTS TO BE FILLED WITH THE FAITHFUL DRIVERS OF THE WHITE VANS, SO THAT THEY COULD SMUGGLE THE CONTRA-BANDS ARRIVING UNDER FALSE PRETENSE, STRAIGHT TO THE RETAILERS.
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Lankikaya / January 4, 2013
This was fixed. This is an honest man and he was fixed by a corrupt bribery dept official against whom many complaints are pending. This is only the version of the Bribery Dept. You haven’t heard the victim’s. Besides, how he was arrested was suspicious. Money was kept in his room and then they busted in on him. These are all plans to take out honest officers and replace them with stooges. Wait for more exciting news in paradise isle.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 4, 2013
It is surprising that someone has not commented that since Ranjan Kanagasabai is Tamil ,[Edited out]
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Ronny / January 4, 2013
It is unbelievable. For a bribe of 1 million, what is the value of the full consignment or rather the approximate net profit from that consignment to give a bribe of 1 million! Interrogate the giver thoroughly. This could be a ploy. Why not the giver is apprehended and remanded until all the documents are thoroughly checked with regard to the declarations of the consignment. The way things are happening in Sri Lanka, anything is possible. From the President upto the labourer in the Government – lies, lies, never ending lies and mass-scale corruption. This is the worst era in the history of Sri Lanka.
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Oh Danny boy / January 5, 2013
WHEN A PERSON IS DOING SOME UNDERHAND DEALS, THEY ARE NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO DO IT AT THEIR DOORSTEP. HAS HE LEFT HIS FINGERPRINTS ON THE NOTES?.
DID ANYONE TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TRANSACTION?.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BEFORE ANY CONVICTION IS REACHED. THE PROSECUTORS HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK TO DO TO CONVINCE THE COURTS.
HE HAD ONLY ONE YEAR TO PACK HIS BAG UP AND RETIRE. SO THERE IS SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON. SOON WE WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.
LET US HOPE THAT IT IS NOT TOO LATE.
THERE WAS A SHIP LOAD CONSIGNMENT CONTAINING FORMALIN AND UREA WERE SEIZED BY THE CUSTOMS BEFORE IT WAS TO BE DELIVERED TO A DISTILLERY OWING TO IRREGULARITIES IN THE PAPER WORK.
THIS WAS SOON COVERED UP BY THE TOP NOBS.
THE FAMOUS SAYING ” APE’ MINIHA NE’ MAMA EKA KOHOMAHARI SHAPE KERALA DHAMMA”.
WITH THE PRESENT COURT VERDICT, A CITIZEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEND A WRIT AND GET EACH ONE IN THE PARLIAMENT KICKED OUT, IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE ORDERS OF THE COURT, AS THEY WILL BE CHARGED WITH “CONTEMPT OF COURT”.
LET US ALL SEND THEM THE WRIT AND CLOSE THE PARLIAMENT. WE COULD DO WITHOUT THE PARLIAMENT BUT WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT LAW AND ORDER.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 7, 2013
YES,
IT IS CORRECT.
FOR WHAT WE WANT THIS TYPE OF PARLIMENT? [ A PIGGERY.]
WE WANT A HONEST JUDICIARY TO GOVERN TO CARE LAW AND ODER.
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Safa / January 7, 2013
According to news reports
“President’s counsel (PC) C R De Silva addressing court on behalf of his client , K .Ranjan , the Director of the customs appraisal division who was arrested and produced in court , said, questioned why should his client seek a bribe of Rs. 10 lakhs when he is having a prospect of getting Rs. 40 million as reward from the Govt. by discharging his duty duly by conducting a raid ? The PC raised this question when the bribery conspiracy case was taken up. When the duties are performed duly , naturally there is a proliferation of enemies, and this bribery charge is a conspiracy hatched by his client’s enemies , he pointed out. PC Silva also informed court that the cash involved was found on the ground near the table of his client . There is a witness , whose name is Subasinghe prepared to give evidence and he is in court now.
A member of the Customs officers association stated that this officer who was arrested had been in the customs service for a long period and is one who had carefully maintained a good record and reputation, not likely to be lured by bribes. Because the regime is bearing a grudge and is smarting over the recent confiscation of a quantity of formalin worth Rs. 2000 million which was imported via forged documents and exposing a relation of the family, this Director was victimized. It is significant to note that this confiscated contraband worth Rs. 2000 million was released on a fine of Rs. 20 million on the orders of the Finance Minister. It is in connection with this same contraband that Customs Director General Dr. Neville Gunawardena was removed from his post. “
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 7, 2013
SO WE CAN SMELL A FISHY IN THIS BUSINESS.
AND FORMALIN IS IMPORTED FOR EMBALMING PURPOSE WITH BLESSING OF THE VVIP’S RELATIVE.
[FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SRI LANKAN PEOPLE.]
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D / January 7, 2013
It shall not be right to wish someone pain and suffering when faced with a great peril. Yet at the same time no one should be allowed to spread false statement about the incident and about conduct and character the Customs Officers generally.
Mr Ranjan Kanagasabai is a staff officer (head of the Preventive Directorate) and he is not entitled to any cash rewards whatsoever. C R de Silva, the former AG knows things better than any ordinary man.
The fact is that all revenue services (Customs, Inland Revenue and Excise) are equally corrupt. The Executive, the cabinet of ministers have set ‘standards’ for others to follow. Any body outside these organisations criticise only until they get an opportunity and when get an opportunity they are much worst than the career officers. SLAS people joined these services like Customs are the best example.
However, this does not mean that there are good honest officers in these services. In fact, there are some who cannot afford to put up their own house. At the same time the majority enjoys the fruits of crime at will. The average take home pay of a officer of Customs is less than 35,000/- But there are so many officers whose children attend British School and the international School Pelawatte where the term fee is running upto 250,000.00 per term and in some cases 3 or 4 children of the same family attend such schools. From where these officers get this money? This is what the Corruption Commission should investigate into.
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Dayananda / January 7, 2013
It shall not be right to wish someone pain and suffering when faced with a great peril. Yet at the same time no one should be allowed to spread false statement about the incident and about conduct and character the Customs Officers generally.
Mr Ranjan Kanagasabai is a staff officer (head of the Preventive Directorate) and he is not entitled to any cash rewards whatsoever. C R de Silva, the former AG knows things better than any ordinary man.
The fact is that all revenue services (Customs, Inland Revenue and Excise) are equally corrupt. The Executive, the cabinet of ministers have set ‘standards’ for others to follow. Any body outside these organisations criticise only until they get an opportunity and when get an opportunity they are much worst than the career officers. SLAS people joined these services like Customs are the best example.
However, this does not mean that there are good honest officers in these services. In fact, there are some who cannot afford to put up their own house. At the same time the majority enjoys the fruits of crime at will. The average take home pay of a officer of Customs is less than 35,000/- But there are so many officers whose children attend British School and the international School Pelawatte where the term fee is running upto 250,000.00 per term and in some cases 3 or 4 children of the same family attend such schools. From where these officers get this money? This is what the Corruption Commission should investigate into and all high profile crimes committed by the politicians in the ruling party.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 7, 2013
LAST MONTH THEY TAX ME ABOUT 42000 RS FOR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS.
WHEN I TOLD THE COUSTOM OFFICER, IT UNFAIR TO TAX ME LIKE THIS.
HE TOLD ME,
AMRAYA; WE HAVE TO CARRY OUT THE INSTRUCTIONS AS THEY ARE.NOT LIKE BEFORE,
FROM THIS TAX MONEY WE HAVE TO FEED VVIP FAMILIES.
AMARAYA, WITH OUT YOU PEOPLE’S MONEY, THEY CAN NOT RUN NIGHT RACES AND CANT ENJOY IN NIGHT CLUBS.
SO AMRAYA, YOU MUST PAY.
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Honda Naluwa / January 15, 2013
Y not investigate the double acting Lankadeva, customs officer who harass small businessman n take huge bribes fm big sharks, all the importers in Sri Lanka knows about this Double Acting Lankadeva
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Honda Naluwa / January 15, 2013
Y not investigate the double acting Lankadeva, customs officer who harass small businessman n take huge bribes fm big sharks, all the importers in Sri Lanka knows about this Double Acting Lankadeva
just see how he sends money to his family in Australia via Undiyal method through an importer
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