19 March, 2024

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Exclusive: How Ranil Squashed 2015 Currency Smuggling Allegations Against Gota’s Son

Shortly after the Yahapalanaya government was formed in 2015, the process of investigating Rajapaksa-era corruption and financial crimes was kicked into high gear for the public to see. The police set up a new division, the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID). The government began an Anti-Corruption Committee and international assistance was sought to go after known crimes.

Manoj Rajapaksa at the launch of Gota’s War in Colombo in 2012

As a part of these efforts, high-level delegations of American law enforcement officials regularly came to Sri Lanka to assist local police and provide information to help bring corrupt officials to justice. At one such meeting held at Temple Trees in late 2015, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chief of Staff and then Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka hosted a delegation of American officials to thank them for their assistance to Sri Lanka.

At this meeting, Colombo Telegraph can reveal that a US law enforcement official suggested to Wickremesinghe and Ratnayaka that while getting evidence on cases that involved foreign jurisdictions such as the US would take time, that the government could instead make use of intelligence from America to charge people for crimes committed in Sri Lanka.

As an example, the official provided a file with customs declarations filed in California by Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s son Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa during the previous regime. These forms, known as Reports on International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments (CMIR) or FinCEN Form 105, are used to declare when someone is bringing cash into America in a sum of over $10,000.

The documents showed to Wickremesinghe showed that Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa had on several occasions between July 2012 and August 2014, travelled to the US from Sri Lanka, and brought with him up exactly US $20,000 in cash in American hundred-dollar bills. Over six trips, the younger Rajapaksa had taken US $120,000 or Rs. 15.6 million in cash out of Sri Lanka and into his home country of America.

Reliable sources told Colombo Telegraph that after looking at the documents, the Prime Minister asked the Americans whether they had information about the source of the funds in Sri Lanka, to which they said no. The customs forms, they explained, did not require the person making the declaration to state the source of funds. The officials suggested that it was likely he had not declared the cash when exporting it from Sri Lanka, which is an offence under Sri Lankan law.

Section 27 of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act requires any person entering or leaving Sri Lanka with more than $10,000 in currency or similar instruments to declare the cash to a customs officer. Failure to declare, or making a false declaration, for each instance, carries a one-year prison sentence. If the money was laundered, that prison sentence could go up to twenty years.

The Americans suggested that the information they provided be used to check whether or not Manoj Rajapaksa had made customs declarations in Sri Lanka, and thereafter that the FCID or the Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit use the information to investigate the source of funds in Sri Lanka. The Americans offered to lend assistance, if necessary, through their anti-kleptocracy unit.

Wickremesinghe and Ratnayaka thanked the Americans for the information and said they would pass it on to the relevant officials at once. However, the matter ended there. Today, almost four years later, the FCID, CID, Central Bank FIU or customs have not been given the documents shared with Wickremesinghe by the Americans. Unlike similar intelligence reports from reliable sources, the information was not passed down to the Anti-Corruption Committee either.

Colombo Telegraph can confirm that none of these agencies received this information, and up to now investigations have taken place in Sri Lanka into the possible outward money laundering by the son of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The file with the damning evidence provided by the Americans is presumed to still be safely tucked away at Temple Trees collecting dust to this day, for reasons best known to the Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff.

A sample of the US Government Reports on International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments (CMIR) or FinCEN Form:

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Latest comments

  • 31
    4

    So, this is Mr. Clean , if this piece of information is true and accurate which we accept as such the UNP must get rid of him and his acolytes forthwith from the Party. What a diabolical and deceptive man the UNP has been boasting about. for years as the only visionary of our country, just imagine even if by chance he became the President of SL even JR would be in the shade. Can one imagine protecting the known criminals and supporting the worse culprits under heaven will ever do any good to our country. We fervently appeal to Venerable Dambara Amila Himi to use his good offices to verify this unacceptable conduct and do the needful to prevent
    an impending calamity to our country.

    • 33
      11

      People who believe that Gota is going to solve all Lanka’s problem because he is capable of reading out a speech written for him by someone else are the same gullible who five years ago believed Yahapalanaya of Sirisena was going to solve all Lanka’s ills.

      The politicians are the same. The people are the same. Nothing has changed. Nothing ever change. The cycle repeats every five years bringing in the same old new hope leading to disappointment. All what happens is, people just get older with the gullibility intact. Then they die and pass on their gullibility to their children. And them to their; on and on ……………..

      Three months after Ranil became the PM in 2015, he went to Indonesia and away from the glare of the Lankan public, gave an interview to an Indonesian TV outfit. I wrote here then, don’t wait five years, make up your minds now, no one is going to be prosecuted for corruption or murder. People’s body language gives them away. He was making all the excuses not to catch anyone.

      It’s a free world, support any candidate you want; that’s what people do.

      But to believe that there is a single Lankan who can solve our problems is to be plain simple stupid. Plain gullible.

      Just say I support Gota; he gave a good speech. Just say I support Ranil; he doesn’t steal for himself, not because he is moral or ethical but because he has inherited wealth. Just say I support Mahinda because he has charisma. Just say I like Sajith because he is Premadasa’a son …………… but for fully grown adults with many years of life experience to say anyone is going to solve Lanka’s problems deserves the Nobel Prize for Stupidity.

      • 23
        7

        Continued

        To come to think of it, that’s the only prize many Lankans have a good chance of landing.

        If you don’t believe me let’s look back to what I said here 5 years from now.

        Plain and simple commonsense can be more accurate than Sumanadasa’s crystal ball.

        If one knows one’s own people and have no sentimental delusions …….. It’s a piece of cake!

      • 16
        4

        Nimal you hit the button. No one from the establishment will root out corruption.

        Ranil is the most learned of the lot and therefore when he looks the other way you know he too is part of the system and too gutless to change anything.

        You’ll be surprised how many are looking at the alternate aspirants to the Presidency. Complete outsiders. Ranil’s methodology of problem solving, simply stinks. Such men are mere manipulators and unfit to lead a nation. You cant bring a country out of darkness unless you have thr guts to reject what is wrong no matter who the culprit is. Straight decision making is the first requirement.

        • 11
          5

          Anyone hoping to vote for UNP should change their vote and vote for Anura if Ranil is nominated by UNP.

      • 8
        3

        If I could hug you I would. Well said and you are spot on my friend.

      • 3
        1

        Spoton mate..

    • 7
      3

      GOVIGAMA RULING ELITE MAFIA ——This is the very same thing that we were WARNING ABOUT, shouting from the roof tops and giving clues on how to identify the EVIL EVENTS that happened in the country and it all connected to the GOVIGAMA MAFIA secret planning and the manipulation of the mass population through Mind Controls through the MASS MEDIA which are owned by them. Govigama Elites are secretly connected to the GLOBAL ELITE MAFIA – The Nazi’s and the Zionists. The same clan that is owning the GLOBAL MASS MEDIA and the Military Industrial Complex and the GLOBAL FINANCE controlling entities. Freemasonic, Jewish blooded, Brahmin, origins are one and the same. When you closely see, you find all these criminals are friends and allies supporting and encouraging each other in their CRIMES. US/Israeli support for the GOTA and the BRAHMIN Modi and Subramaniam Swamy supporting this evil slut… Ranil supporting him, his brother’s family, JR’s grandson, Gamini Dissanayake’s family, the NAZI monks…. its all one big soup of EVILS coming togther for a REAL FAscist future, to save the domination of power to their GOVIGAMA progeny.

      • 3
        2

        Radical Ideas, Your rattle on Nazi monks and identifying Zionists borders on confusion of crimes unless you specify what each group did to get in your big soup. Jihadist IS ousted caliphate from Mosul has prominence as it is vying for the real estate called Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Both Jews and Arabs common ancestor Abraham was called to sacrifice son as a preview of a future sacrifice. King David purchased property, and sinless Jesus was sacrificed in Jerusalem for the sins/karma of the whole world’s rejection of the Creator God. When nuclear world war 111 erupts there, it is predicted in Zech.12 that nations will gather against it, as Jerusalem will be a cup of trembling for the surrounding people who attack it and get cut in pieces. Second coming of Jesus is the reality of judgment and all corrupt robbers and murderers in SL need get their lives straight.

        • 1
          1

          Dear Concerned, thanks for the knowledgeable counter comment. Let me start with the BIG SOUP of EVILS coming together as friends and allies by supporting each other in the common goal of establishing a ONE WORLD GOVT., as espoused in the FREEMASONS and the ILLUMINATI projects. The ONE WORLD GOVT., or better known as The New World Order (NWO). The GLOBAL power structure is thus been Designed, manufactured and delivered to achieve the NWO reality. Under this scheme, the White West Europeans ( considered and identified as the progeny of the (GOG & MAGGOG that originated near the Black Sea region and they will spread CORRUPTIONS in the earth-as it was told in BIBLE & QURAN) mysteriously got evil power to conquer the regions of the world about 300 years ago. They did conquer and are now spread throughout everywhere and have been holding the ruling power in most countries of the world if not all of them. This includes Sri Lanka. The local version of the evil Gog and Maggog could be found with the GOVIGAMA RULING ELITE MAFIA families. They are the ones who are spreading the corruptions throughout a century, ever since they were made the RULING ELITES by the White Supremacist Western axis of GOG & MAGGOG – The British. – —-to be continued——

          • 0
            2

            Dear Radical Ideas, I have no personal theory and write only what is in the bible. I don’t know what is in quran. All what happens in natural is what is allowed from unseen supernatural realm of Creator God who is love, light, spirit and consuming fire burning up evil. But Lucifer angelic cherub cast out of heaven is evil with his fallen demons and influences humans to do a wide spectrum if evil to conquer God’s created earth in the NWO, One world power structure of dictatorship militarization, one world finance and one world religion leaving God out. This is evil whether Northern Gog and Magog is identified by whatever name you call it, they wont last outside plan and purpose. Rebellion is called witchcraft and will be eliminated just like the fallen satan for whom God created hell biblically. Man can avoid that by aligning with God’s plan and even if one dies in a war not sensing what God is saying, still eternal life is assured to those who belong to his family, walking and talking like 1st man Adam did. Win win life. Whatever world pattern gog, govi, global, govt, western illuminati or great army from the east. They will all be defeated in the Armageddon war at return to Jerusalem of Jesus to judge nations, according to who is against Jerusalem. Bible is a foretelling book written by 40 inspired authors over 1600 years with one theme, coming of Jesus and his return. 95% has already happened accurately and rest will happen as written.

  • 10
    9

    Even if it is TRUE, this is Chicken Geed in comparison to Dr Ranil squashing his ex Royal mate’s LKR 11 Billion Bond Stealing Allegation..

    BTW . wonder why those American Delegations didn’t ask why Dr Ranil didn’t bring back that 18 Billion USD which Dr Ranil’s Mate Mangala claimed was found by the American Intelligence.
    And Dr Ranil’s other mate Dr Rajitha went and checked it out with his gun son UNP MP Chatura from Gampaha..

    • 10
      6

      Chicken Feed alright. CT should not be endorsing such flimsy articles. Ranil squashed the mega Bond Issue. Billions of $s undeclared in secret accounts of the UNP.

      • 12
        5

        Dilkie: CTs chicken feed is more tolerable than your bullshit. Scamming money out of Bond deals is not something UNP started. UNP govt is guilty of not being vigilant enough, if not negligence.

    • 7
      2

      Dr. Ranil has been double-dealing for a long time. Paying off Muslim ministers, Americans, etc. I would not be surprised if the UNP paid off the Sunday Leader a few years ago, what other reason to go after Gota like hot fire, knowing the consequences.

  • 7
    8

    FAKE NEWS……
    US airports come under federal law and as such all data from travellers are private and not available for any one with out a court order..
    Even US agencies or embassies cannot have access to this data so how come some one got access to this with out a court case?
    CT need to be mature if you want to take you as a serious web site..
    After 10K you need to declare it at US border and no need to take it 6 times since once you declare you can take any amount…

  • 6
    4

    Looks like Dr Ranil is about to squash Keselwatta Kid too..

    Poor Kid ,
    Now Dr Ranil wants The Kid to bring not only Mangala Samarea, Dr Harsh, Young Sujeeva,Harin Fernando,Dr Eran, Ajith Perera Kabir Hashim but also TNA Sampathar as his Dream Team to front up to the UNP Executive Committee.

    Then only Galleon Ravi, Dr Rajitha and Dr Ranil will announce whether the Kid can be the UNP Candidate..

    That is what is serious squashing unlike Nandasena’s Son’s 120. 000…

  • 4
    5

    Shame on you CT, not reporting the wedding of the year as the lowyer marries in Tangalle.

  • 6
    2

    As per UN report. Sri Lanka is more corrupt than 122 other countries. From each USD 1 , 43% paid for corruption expenses. No wonder the country is expensive to live in. The top is very heavy, with all politicos buying very expensive vehicles and the common man ,even cannot buy a bike. Malnourishment is 60%, Buddhist monks are the leading phedos with easy access to kids. The Sri Lanken rupee is over valued by 70%, and it should be 1 usd = rs 270 range, as the loan payments and interest eats into our balance of payment current ac. Property prices backed by chineese black money has put most properties to be over priced by 350%, should drop when china goes into a full blown recession by end of the year.

  • 9
    2

    May I congratulate Colombo Telegraph for publishing this article? I hope some individuals will begin to think about the rape of the country by the political class.

  • 3
    2

    There are billions of national currency of Rupees has been stolen by UNP leadership of including Primer that unknown numbers of Ministers, MP and Speakers and their political cronies had robbed Tax Payers money belongs to that govt treasurers of public Funds.No one that an accountability and responsibilities of that. They elected by 2015 August 17 to served for” good governance” and reshaped of that ” rule of law” undermined by previous MR ruling parties,since year 2005!
    Is that UNP regime has given any type of mandate to robbed public funds by regime change of 15/1/8 by citizens of Sri Lankan?
    Ongoing enforcement authorities was compositions by under-leaders of that President of MS; UNP of Primer of Wickrasinghe and CBK of ex-President of that leader of SLFP . In reality that current govt.+ regime that installed by USA 15/18.
    It has NOT take any action against on all foul played by last govt.
    The so-called UNP regime worst corrupted govt being to political after Interdependence 1948. By and large that suspicion issues has been all politicization of UNP led administration by President and Prime-Minsters and their team of govt Minsters and Speakers of house the key culprits of ongoing rules of Island .
    An entire leadership regime installed by USA 2015 Jan 8th, but that US kept on silent of all problems that related corruptions; therefor that aim of USA is wanted to installed Military base in tip of Indian Ocean…in Sri Lanka.
    The good part of democracy of USA is that corruption has shifted ,while then that turn into US military …Indo- Pacific region

  • 2
    3

    Taste of things to come.

    “Allowing the revision application filed against the orders made by the Magistrate’s Court and the High Court over the maintainability of the Avant Garde floating armoury case, the Court of Appeal today set aside both the orders and directed the Magistrate’s Court to discharge the eight accused including Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the corruption case filed by the Bribery Commission (BC).”

    Appeal court gives a free pass sighting procedural flaws. This is a real scam that took away funds that should be for the crown and put in private players pockets. All the thieves are screaming from rooftops about a non existent fraud on CB bonds while real crooks are walking free.

    • 2
      2

      Please wake up…

  • 4
    5

    First of all someone is faking using my name.
    We proud Tamils come from Tamilnadu, a pseudonym has been created to call it Toiletnadu. We will never get back there as living in Lanka though we are recent arrivals is good for us. CT must nip it in the bud (the Toiletnadu pseudonym)..

  • 4
    3

    Ha Ha Ha…
    This is FAKE NEWS at its best.

    Gota is just released from Avant-Garde drama case.

    Please go to courts or a relevant authority with your allegations if its true. Just dont sling mud everywhere..

    • 1
      1

      thats only on a technicality because the bribery commission did not give a letter to the prosecutor.the court has said after the letter is received a retrial can be held.

  • 3
    0

    This money probably came from weapons commissions. Fonseka’s son-in-law was doing the same thing. Very common in Third-World countries, as weapons sales are big business for buyer & seller both.

  • 1
    1

    Mallai, thanks for quoting Elliot Spitzer,s case. You are absolutely right. One thing about US is they may get involved in illegal activities outside of their country , for their gain but within country no one is immune from justice system, including judges, lawyers, businessmen, politicians and people who hold power. In Lanka all the politicians and people who have influence and their families , extended family members, religious heads , pretty much everyone EXCEPT for the hard working poor and minorities with no influence are immune.

  • 5
    0

    It’s strange why this info is surfacing now.Is it as we call “mada” or author in coma for the last 4.5 years not revealing.

  • 2
    0

    This is good lesson for the Civil Society not to engage with the UNP in any future election or any policy matters. It is high time to back an alternative force who will change this corrupt system.

  • 0
    1

    Mr. Henry Fernando: Very strange to observe that you didn’t know this man Ranil W. At least now you , (believing the story in the article) say: ” what a diabolical and deceptive man the UNP has been boasting about”. From the time he was brought into “Politics” by his uncle JRJ, this “Man” started and continued in a very “Deceptive” and “Crooked” style and developed those talents to a very “High” standard, he has learned and culture to stand “Tall” with any situation. You must have observed, how MR “Rushed” to “Road Repair” work and closed the entry to the Headquarters of UNP on the day his “Opponents” barricaded the building demanding his step down. Then you “Know” very well, how he was “escorted” by MR’s “Deal Maker” Thiru Nadesan to Temple Trees in the early morning hours of Jan. 09th 2015″ even without consulting the “Winning Candidate” of that election. Need I tell you of his infamous involvement in “Batalanda Case”; that “CFA” signed with LTTE; now the most recent “Bond Scam”. So this “Revelation” about Got’s son is NO SURPRISE and if he (Ranil W) did not get involve is the “Surprise”. Let me remind you ALL these political leaders are in a huge CONGLOMERATE , that is not so easy to dissolve. That is the FATE of this country, looks like, BUT must be done at any cost. Don’t you think it is worth doing that?

  • 1
    3

    What the hell is CT up to? Trying to goad us into choosing the baddest of the bads? One is a politician the other an army man.
    One is a born-again dual citizen the other is a citizen.
    One has a foreigner son, probably unemployed but living ostentatiously.
    One has the support of the Armed Services, the other does not.
    One was patron of Bodu Bala Sena and now has the blessing of the Founder/Leader of BBS_Buddhism Gnanasara Thera.
    One has a book written by a ghost writer. The other “Not yet”.
    .
    Has CT fallen for the tricky trap to keep Gota centre stage.

  • 1
    1

    Pillai, you are absolutely right. This process is called “white washing “. Where in Laundries ” slightly soiled clothes and heavily dirt are washed together to make them all appear “squeaky clean”. Will the old stains “give away ” ??? The debates are now on who is a better future leader ????? Pimp ??????? or a Murderer ???

  • 2
    0

    Et tu Ranil???
    YOU SOLD YOUR SOUL TO THE DEVIL !!
    SHAME ON YOU !!!!!!

  • 4
    1

    Whats the BIG deal…………..
    Most well off Sri Lankan ex-pats in USA………..
    eg Doctors
    sell their assets in Sri Lanka
    visit Sri Lanka / with wife / girl friend / sons / daughters…..
    mostly to avoid suspicion go one person per trip…..
    bring out vast sums of US $$$
    they do not pay either Sri Lankan / USA taxes……….

    ONLY reason US Officials informed Ranil is…………
    a victorious GOTA…..will not be a USA puppert…..
    that was Sirisene / Ranil…………

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