Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother, Basil Rajapaksa and his wife Pushpa Rajapaksa had used the Sri Lanka Army’s central armoury located at the Salawa army camp in Kosgama as a location to earn big bucks, Colombo Telegraph can reveal today.
Basil and Pushpa
The Salawa camp and 800 houses in its vicinity were completely destroyed and damaged beyond repair in an explosion last week, including loss of lives and physical harm to many, though the numbers are yet to be confirmed.
Documents seen by Colombo Telegraph shows that the Rajapaksa duo had transported used brass artillery barrels from the north and east provinces to Salawa army camp and had them washed and resold at scrap value.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Minister of Defence and the commander Tri Forces and his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whilst his other brother Basil Rajapaksa was the Minister of Economic Development.
We publish below an edited part of an affidavit of a person who was involved in the deal, since the matter is now under investigation.
1. I am ………..and I was born on ……… now living at , ……, . At the moment I am working at ……
2. In Sri Lanka I worked at …….as a Sales Director, No….., Sri Lanka, and also a Trading Broker especially for the iron in local market.
3. Somewhere around July 2010 I met xxx with a substantial business proposal. Normally he is also doing the trading business, and he is very close to the President’s brother, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, and his family. At that time xxx was looking for buyers for the 75,000 tons of used artillery barrels which was under the Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka. The releasing price of used artillery barrels by the Ministry was 280 rupees for 1kg, and xxxx offers that for 350 rupees per 1kg to me. This business was mainly handled by Pushpa Rajapaksa, wife of Basil Rajapaksa.
4. I started to search the buyers and I found xxxx who is doing the local iron business at the Pettah. xxxx agreed to do the business and he wants to see the goods before confirm to his buyer.
5. In the mean time I was looking for some other buyers too because of the huge quantity. And day by day the business was dragged by xxx. I asked the reason for the delay, because at the time, xxxx is pushing me to see the goods. xxxx told me that they have bring down all the goods to Kosgama Army camp from the other areas of the country and they do washing before providing to any buyers in case any chemicals have been used which will cause a future problem. Because of this issue, the goods were delayed and xxxx missed his buyer and he shouted at me. At that time I told him the process and reason for the delay.
6. Then I found the Malaysia xxxxxxx Company through xxxxx former xxxxxxx. We discussed everything and they finally agreed to buy all the goods at a price of 430 rupees per 1kg. But they asked for a letter of authority from the Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka to start the business process.
7. To release that letter Pushpa Rajapaksa asked an advance of 150 million rupees. But xxxxxxx Company did not like to release the money without having the approval letter. They agreed to give the money within 3 hours after getting the evidence. For the trust they agreed to sign a contract in front of a lawyer. I tried to get a bank loan to pay the initial money.
8. xxxxxxxxx bank Manager Mr …..agreed to give the loan, but he asked a commission from the business. Finally we all agreed to sign the contract.
9. We planed a final meeting with …., …….., ………, and myself on 5th August 2010 at the Galadari Hotel Colombo. ……. . a…….. and me came on time and we were arrested at the Galadari hotel lobby by a group of armed men, and dragged to a white van. As xxxx came late, he was not arrested.
Patriot / June 11, 2016
CT Admin why were waiting until the armoury was flattened to the ground to bring this case knowing very well not a shred of evidence is left behind after the destruction. Be professional please.
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Muhammed Fazl / June 11, 2016
Dear Patriot,
CT publishes news WHEN AND IF they get the information… and certainly NOT when YOU want it. Hope you understand.
:)
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lakshman / June 11, 2016
So how do we know that this story (with a lot of XXX) is true.Please be more specific with previous info on this arrest etc.
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Sylvia Haik / June 12, 2016
If this story had even a shred of untruth, the Rajapakse would be the first to sue the Colombo Telegraph for defamation of character and in the old days when they had all the power, including the judiciary, they would certainly have won and bankrupted CT. Count your blessings we are not dwelling in those days anymore and can expect justice at every corner.
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Native Vedda / June 12, 2016
Sylvia Haik
“If this story had even a shred of untruth, the Rajapakse would be the first to sue the Colombo Telegraph for defamation of character and in the old days when they had all the power, including the judiciary, they would certainly have won and bankrupted CT.”
I haven’t got all the details of the wheeling and dealing in this regard.
However I know that at least one house in Jaffna town was illegally occupied by army/scrap metal merchant who used the house to store scrap metals collected from the theatre of war. It took the house owner almost 3-4 years after the end of war to vacate them from the premises.
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Confused / June 12, 2016
We need more clarity in the final part of the news…
So the broker team from the buyer went to meet the broker team from seller to finalize the deal. Then the broker team from the buyer was arrested and taken on a white van…
This is the part we need more clarity.
What was the reason to arrest the broker team from buyer and taken on a white van?
Was the deal finalized in an undisclosed location? If the answer is yes then Gota is also in trouble otherwise Basil is in trouble.
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old codger / June 12, 2016
S.H,
I don’t think the Rajapakses or their lawyers could bankrupt CT even if they tried . Even the mighty MR govt couldn’t completely block the site . There are always ways to access it.
I don’t know why they don’t say to hell with it and print the document without any deletions.
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Burt / June 11, 2016
This not true. If the said transaction had happened then there should documented evidence outside the military establishment and that wont be difficult to retrieve.
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Rohan / June 12, 2016
heh he heh…
How many ‘dead’ fighter planes did Sri Lanka purchase from Russia and Ukraine? How much of money the Rajapakse Family, including the unqualified High Commissioner pocketed?
Did anyone know about the floating armoury of Sri Lankan weapons that made money for a private company during the Rajapakse government? Paperwork? My foot!!!
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MsMaralathoni / June 12, 2016
This man Basil should long be prison for all the high crimes he deliberately commited.
What has the current government been doing ? NOthing. If Golden son of the nation – late Sobita Thero would have been there, he would never agree the way the current regime fails to fulfil number 1 election promises -which is to punsih high criminals such as Basil -how come the bugger stays today without any severe health problems as had been the case with him some 8 monoths ago, at the time he was arrested ( was said to have been seriously ill and that was the reson him to stay in a prison hospital). Why the current governtment stay doing the due ? This is beocming a dillamial problem to us that fought to get rid of Rajapskhes.
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Baba / June 12, 2016
Lol, why does Colombo telegraph hide part of the affidavit? If it’s a true deceleration. I also wonder why CT doesn’t realise that the scrap metal was bought from the Govt at a price
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Sama / June 12, 2016
Why cant prevailing law and order in the country yet hang this man -Basil and others of his crime nature by this balls for all the high profile abuses deliberately done abusing people s funds that way ?
This is the dillemal problem of the day for any one who supported election of a good governance govt.
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Amarasiri / June 11, 2016
RE: Exclusive: Basil And Pushpa Used Salawa Central Armoury To Earn Big Bucks
//”9. We planed a final meeting with …., …….., ………, and myself on 5th August 2010 at the Galadari Hotel Colombo. ……. . a…….. and me came on time and we were arrested at the Galadari hotel lobby by a group of armed men, and dragged to a white van. As xxxx came late, he was not arrested.’??
A “Client” of the white van! Lucky you are still alive.
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Rohan / June 11, 2016
Is it blood on his hands? These people encashed every possible thing that was available.
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Barathan / June 11, 2016
It is becoming easier by the day to conjecture now about the hand or hands that dealt with Kosgama explosion.
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sacre blieu / June 11, 2016
So the plot thickens by the day and the dirt gets piled up with the environment getting polluted and living becomes unbearable. So, where do we go from here. Total annihilation.
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Thumpane Banda / June 11, 2016
This type of deals by politicians or Gov officers are not surprising at all..
However, following information is interesting .. actually it is a very sad one….
“around July 2010—– buyers for the 75,000 tons of used artillery barrels “…. ….
How much killing power is this ? Even if we say our soldiers are not very good at aiming, how much destruction the live ammunition corresponding to 75,000 tons of empties had done to properties in the civil war?
Is this 3 years, 5 years or 10 years collection of empties? I read in the past that electric power line wires and copper telephone wires were collected and sold by some organized groups in the war zone.. So I don’t believe these valuable used artillery barrels last 10 or 20 years even inside military yards….
Perhaps UN and UK Channel 4 people might have heard these numbers before us, the public…
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jim softy / June 11, 2016
Two white collar thieves,. They used peoples’ trust to advance they themselves.
lower than animals.
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Sunil / June 11, 2016
Why no talk about Rajapaksa family illegal arms trade!?
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Rohan / June 11, 2016
They are holy cows! Even Thajudeen’s case drags this long!
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maya / June 12, 2016
they are not holy cows the Sirisena and anil coalition do not have balls to bring them to justice, maybe because they are doing similar things.
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thrishu / June 11, 2016
So, what is the reason for arresting this guy and others by white van ogres. There is no clear explanation, and who is the stupid lawyer that fabricated this affidavit leaving that crucial information out?
Let us say the white van ogres were GR’s hit squad. Why would he arrest the punters of his brother’s and beloved sister-in-law’s (I am assuming they are married)? Suppose they arrested them, say like a fake arrest to show to the public that these punters were a group of baddies and that they were involved in fraudulently profiting from government property, all for the public consumption and to make a record for future release in case the story of Rajapaksha’s selling government property came out to the public domain. In that case what happened to the 150 Million deposit paid to the beloved sister in law? Have the beloved sister in law and her husband quietly pocketed that money, and now it is sitting in a Bank in the US?
If the story is true, it seems that there is an underlying conspiracy to defraud punter traders through pretentious sale of a non-existence product, and undertaking a high-level CON TRICK to defraud large sums of money from those gullible traders. Since white van people were involved, as to the source of conspiracy the finger may point to BR, GR and the beloved sister in law.
What a fascinating story! I wonder what the army and police may have to say.
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kumaran / June 11, 2016
Do you see that even the bank manager (see para 8) wanted a commission !! Herein is the problem. Everyone wants commission and all are ready, willing and able to give commissions.
Suggestion I: make the givers of commissions equally culpable as the takers. Expose their names. Givers and takers. Impose punitive measures so that this demonic practice that bleeds the nation is totally eradicated.
Suggestion II: when awarding a contract or tender, make all the details public and have a document signed by the tenderers that no offers of cash, travel, gifts etc was made to the organization or corporation needing the contract. This document has to be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Accountant and one other Director.
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renu / June 11, 2016
Basil with the other members of the family would have sold human excreta if they could make a fast buck. In fact when things get disclosed I wonder whether there was a hidden hand in the explosion at Salawa
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punchinilame / June 11, 2016
Now we await a Press briefing by Basil, denying everything and charging
the State of mud-slinging. Even Gota will claim that 75000 tons of
metal derived could not have been used in the war of zero casualties!
This is why the Diaspora clamours for a independent international war
crimes inquiry and the need for international Judges.
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Freeda Muhandiram / June 11, 2016
Hey Mate (Author of this article)
Do you mean 75 Tons, or 75,000 Tons.
Do you know that fully loaded Nimitz class biggest air craft carrier is only 97,000 Tons with all its aic crafts and amunitions, fuels loaded. The smalled air craft carrier is only aobut 15,000 Tons. So do you think that there were five loads of small air craft carriers worth of empty shells in Sri Lanka army??
We should have started to build our own air craft carrier in Brass with that much of empty Shells.
When you write an article please think that people who read have a bit of intelligence!!
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Kangaroos / June 11, 2016
ALL POLITICIANS AND JOUNALISTS THINK THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THE ABOVE ARE STUPID AND GULLIBLE AND WILL CONSUME ALL CRAP THAT THEY THROW OUT AT US. AND THE FUNNIEST THING IS MOST OF US CONSUME IT.
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senthil / June 11, 2016
sacre Blieu, good question but why this question is not been asked by Singhalese public when all previous governments polluted North with all sorts of chemicals and destroying lot of trees. I think the mighty God is giving you a chance to understand the pain of North people. This is only a start,karma will not let the people who are direct or indirect responsible for the crime committed to north people. It can not be justified to God be simply twisting the story by saying all down to LTTE. Best option is to accept international war crime investigation and punish the actual criminals whether army, politicians or LTTE, internal investigation is a waste of time and Tamils are not interested on that.
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Perera / June 11, 2016
LEAVE GOD OUT OF IT. MOST OF US ARE BARBARIANS IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH JUST LIKE TO DESTROY OURSELVES
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Tamil from the north / June 12, 2016
Bllody thief, the whole country became a Pariah kingdom because of these Parapaksas.
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Tamil from the north / June 12, 2016
I meant bloody…..
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KA Sumanasekera / June 12, 2016
Recycling Motor Shell cases as brass ornaments is a brilliant idea,
It may even qualify for a Innovation award in the United States, if they can bring them back from their battle fields.
Our UNP Yahapalana CID and the F******CID spend their valuable time investigating Innovative businesses.
A Yahapalana big ass Minister in the mean time, acquires 30 acres of Uma Oya Govt Land to harvest valuable KumBuk timber.
When the local inhabitants protested , the Minister told them, he bought the land from the incumbent priest in the Temple.
My Elders tell me the Temple lands can not be sold,
It is like the Thevasalami or something like that our Vellala inhabitants have been granted by the Dutch Colonials.
Has the Batalanada PM and his cabinet rescinded this Buddhist Law as part of their attack on Sinhala Buddhists.
There by giving their big ass Ministers a helping hand to become rich legally, instead of collecting commissions?..
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Native Vedda / June 12, 2016
KASmaalam KA Sumanasekera
“It is like the Thevasalami or something like that our Vellala inhabitants have been granted by the Dutch Colonials.”
What is Thesawalamai?
Could you tell us more about it and its historical context.
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Native Vedda / June 12, 2016
KASmaalam KA Sumanasekera
“Recycling Motor Shell cases as brass ornaments is a brilliant idea,”
It is truly a great idea.
You made a mistake by not advising him in good time. Brass artillery shells can be easily rejigged into trench art and sold them to unsuspecting stupid Western, Chinese, Indian … tourists.
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KA Sumanasekera / June 12, 2016
Dear Native,
That is brilliant,
Didn’t you ask me the other day about our innovative achievements ?
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KA Sumanasekera / June 12, 2016
Dear Native,
You should put another claim to the Bedouin Prince to demand that Yahapalana Govt return all those left over Artillery Shell Casings to the Vellala Vigneswaran.
As part of the package after jailing the War Heroes.
You can open a handicraft factory to turn them into Trench Art.
Imagine the sceneries which the Dalits there can etch to depict Mr Pirahapara’s reign for three decades.
Once your Diasprora mates start arriving in hundreds of thousands as new Tourists with their Duals , you won’t be able to keep up with the demand for Pirahaparan souveniors..
Ones with him in his full battle gear, if produced as limited Editions, it will appreciate in value like a rocket.
With 80 Million in Thamil Nadu, why would you want French and Poms to buy them….
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Native Vedda / June 12, 2016
KASmaalam KA Sumanasekera
“It is like the Thevasalami or something like that our Vellala inhabitants have been granted by the Dutch Colonials.”
What is Thesawalamai?
Could you tell us more about it and its historical context.
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Rohan / June 12, 2016
/Recycling Motor Shell cases as brass ornaments is a brilliant idea, It may even qualify for a Innovation award in the United States, if they can bring them back from their battle fields./
Aiyo KASmalam… Can you please tell us how much of money did the Sri Lanka government or the people of Sri Lanka gained out of it?
Okay, if you say any gain is a good gain even if it went to a private group, why did the military camp come in the middle as a charity spot?
Nobody here doubt about your intellect, KASmalam. But, why do you want to keep proving this?
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Joseph / June 12, 2016
WHAT WAS THE FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER, MR. SIRISENA, DOING WHILE ALL THESE ACTIVITIES WERE GOING ON IN HIS MINISTRY?
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Analyst / June 12, 2016
Joseph
He has been given immunity because he agreed to become the common candidate to topple the Jarapassa. Which ofcourse he succeeded and got the immunity from the Human Rights.
Remember all the pow vows between the whole lot of them including the Jarapassas??
All the Dramas!
All are Liars and Thieves.
Secret Ok?
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KA Sumanasekera / June 13, 2016
Have you joined Face Book Madhusha…
It is ok ..one less to the Yahapalana Suckers Club..
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realbuddhist / June 12, 2016
Any body could understand why they were arrested. While doing such act,
1. they evaded paying commission intended for that guys.
2. Show the public that some guys have been in this business and not MR’s family members. So bad names to those guys and good money to them. It is understood that the buyer was not taken in. It was not a legal arrest but white van.
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Nuwan / June 13, 2016
Two things that I’m wondering about. 1) Who eventually sold this lot of metal 2) Who covered it up?
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Ruvan / June 13, 2016
Have you read W. A. Silva’s novels; If he had lived today he would have written a better letter!
My point is this! So far we’ve failed to find out any major mishandling of public money by Basil or any of the Rajapaksas.
Therefore, the public perception is that this is a game/trick/conspiracy (by Yahapalakayas and media people) to take the public eye from vital political and socio-economic issues of the country.
By the way, the last point reveals a different story: “9) We planed a final meeting with …., …….., ………, and myself on 5th August 2010 at the Galadari Hotel Colombo. ……. . a…….. and me came on time and we were arrested at the Galadari hotel lobby by a group of armed men, and dragged to a white van. As xxxx came late, he was not arrested.”
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Mudson Silva. / June 13, 2016
Mr 10% and Puspa Jarapaksa would do anything to make money. Someone remove the fellows kurakkan satakaya and mete out justice as soon as possible.
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Plato. / June 14, 2016
Basil Rajapakses wife Pushpa,an Attorney-At-Law,asking for an advance of Rs:150 MILLION!
Has any Attorney-At-Law,in active practice in SriLanka,made so much money,in such a short period,in Srilankas Legal history?
Srilanka has been a land like no other,only for the Rajapakses!
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Singhe / June 14, 2016
Extremely interesting comments. Entertaining. Relaxing. Anyway the best comments appear to be the request to ” Leave God out of it” Is there any one who has seen met or seen a photograph of any God.
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Raizuh Langai / June 15, 2016
Like all other investigations this will also be swept under the carpet. People are losing their trust in all sides of politics. Its now left for the national media to voice the concern of the people.Will CT stand up for the helpless people of this country?
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