The much talked ethanol smuggling racket, that denied the government billions of tax revenue is clearly an ‘inside’ operation carried out with the collusion of some Sri Lanka customs officials, holding very high profile office in the revenue fraud Preventive Directorate and government politicians, the Colombo telegraph can reveal today.
Overwhelming evidence presented to the corruption commission in this regard recently (07th April 2014) includes a phone call record, which includes 29 phone calls the Director Preventive, Leslie Gamini had with the accused who was charged for the smuggling of ethanol.
On arrival the two containers of ethanol were first detained by the Director of the Preventive Directorate, Leslie Gamini, providing a safe passage, free from any customs interference from any other enforcement units such as Central Intelligence Bureau, Central Investigation Bureau and Revenue Task Force.
Thereafter, he withdrew the detention of the containers and permitted the Ports Authority to release the two containers amongst hundreds of other containers to be taken out of the port under the normal channel (without carrying out the physical examination of the cargo).
When the containers were taken outside the port premises some excise officers seized the containers and escorted them to the excise deport for examination of the goods.
Then again the Deputy Superintendent of Customs namely Sanath Fernando (cousin of the ruling party MP Arundika Fernando) once again intercepted and seized the two containers from the custody of the excise officers and escorted them to the Customs premises again. The MP Arundika Fernando had intervened in previous cases of ethanol detections as well that had been ‘detected’ and ‘inquired’ into by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Sanath Fernando himself.
At the inquiry it was alleged that the seizure of two ethanol containers by the officer Sanath Fernando from the excise officers was not genuine, alleging that it was an attempt to claim the cash reward of over 10 million offered in the case. At the end of the inquiry it was ruled that the Officer Sanath Fernando or his informant are not entitled to claim any cash reward.
The phone call record, which includes 29 phone calls the Director Preventive, Leslie Gamini had with the accused who was charged for the smuggling of ethanol ;
Native Vedda / April 20, 2014
Ben Hurling
Has Tamil LTTE supporting diaspora got anything to do with corruption in which top state officials and members of ruling party are involved?
Have Navi Pillai (UNHRC), David Cameron (UK), all the Neo Cons of USA, Hindia, ………. Wiggy, TNA ….. got anything to do with employees of state institutions and ruling party member colluding together defrauding the state coffers?
This is work in progress of 65 years of centralising Sinhala/Buddhist one nation state.
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Palmsquirrell / April 20, 2014
Veddah , this Leslie chap looks like a [Edited out]
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Native Vedda / April 20, 2014
Palmsquirrell
“Veddah , this Leslie chap looks like a [Edited out]”
Your absentee father?
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Palmsquirrell / April 21, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Palmsquirrell / April 21, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Palmsquirrell / April 21, 2014
Veddah,
You have no idea what I said since CT censored it.As it stands, you thow out insults without even knowing what I said, which is not something a relatively fair person does.
If you are remotely interested in seeing what I said, which by the way is the same thing you have said countless times, you can discuss it in another venue (email, chat forum, reddit etc…)
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Native Vedda / April 22, 2014
Palmsquirrell
“You have no idea what I said since CT censored it”
Yes I agree that I didn’t have any idea what you wrote which was admonished by CT. Hence I had to speculate what exactly you wrote.
I speculate on words unsaid or censured. Its great fun you too should try it. On the other hand I stand by my objectives among many the one I thing most important is that both stupid Tamils and stupid Sinhalese should be insulted on a regular basis because both deserve it.
Nothing personal.
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Ajith / April 20, 2014
This chap Ben is not bothered about the life long Buddhist fundamentalism or corruption or unlawful activities of the Sinhala Buddhists. He thinks only Sinhalese have the right to kill people without justice.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / April 20, 2014
This is a purely Mud slinging effort by the Western NGO clique.
Our politickkas are Every poya day Sil observing, Mathata Thitha Upaasakas.
So do not Accuse them with hatred mind and jealous.
And let them share the LOOt with Our MAHA Upaaska F king Jarapassa and Clan.
Next time F king’s son will import heroine containers,
And Badu Balu Sena, STF together with Army will escort the consignment to Mulaana palace for packing and distribution Island wide thru P C goons and rapist.
This the Chinese way, Russian way, we have to Practise and teach Our future political generations namely Politicians wives, Sons, daughters and relatives.
Then they can Rule us forever with Jarapassa MAFIA.
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Amarasiri / April 20, 2014
Native Veddha,
“The much talked ethanol smuggling racket, that denied the government billions of tax revenue is clearly an ‘inside’ operation carried out with the collusion of some Sri Lanka customs officials, holding very high profile office in the revenue fraud Preventive Directorate and government politicians, the Colombo telegraph can reveal today”
This Customs corruption used to be at the lower levels , a few thousand rupees from each citizen. Now it is on an industrial scale.
Yes, following the Sinhala Buddha Dhamma.
See what these Paras from South India have done to your land.
Get them to join their cousins in South India.
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Lasantha / April 21, 2014
I once went to India with the Boy’s sports team in mid Seventies during Madam Sirima Bandaranaike’s reign. We went to Jaffna by train and boarded the Flight to Trichi.
On our way we landed at Jaffna Airport and the Sri Lankan Custom officers were checking our luggage. I brought some sarees for my mother and trousers for myself and my father and brother and some small gifts to my friends like Pens, some plated bangals, ear rings, belts etc,etc, of of the little pocket money my father gave.
In front of my eyes, the custom officer in Jaffna checked my luggage and took some of the pens, scarf and other gift items and put inside the drawer. I could not say anything.He kept them with him. Same would have happened to others who went with me.
That day I knew how Sri Lanka Customs work.
Same happened when I wanted to get my Drivers License in early eightees. The inspector was asking for money to Pass the test, saying I did some mistakes during the test, although I drove my car properly. He opened the drawyer in front of me to put money. I did not give him any money and I got failed in the test.
These are only few experience I have as a Sinhalese.
Just imagine the situation with Tamils, Muslims and Burgher community.
The so called majority Sinhala Budhist corrupt crooks ruined our contry.Police is the worst Alibabas in Sri Lanka. You could even get good raided Kasippu from Police.
In the morning they hear Bana and Pirith and during daytime rob other people.
This is the curse to our country. Jayawewa.
Ethenol will be Toys when Casinos come.
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Rarityminds / April 21, 2014
NV@,
who is Ben Hurling ?
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Native Vedda / April 21, 2014
Rarityminds
“who is Ben Hurling ?”
A person who is easily titillated by Gota’s disinformation and spin.
He believes in all things Gota, his goons and armed forces do and want us to agree with. Ben almost bought a second hand non existent car from Gota when the Gopi story was planted by Defence Secretary.
Ben blames LTTE, LTTE rump, Tamil Diaspora, TNA, Navi Pillai, the West for every thing wrong with this island, including all natural disasters, such as tsunami, cyclone, drought, mudslide, flood, ….
Ben likes to see a regime change without the entire state being restructured. He/she likes to have the cake and eat it too.
At times Ben forgets MR and his clan are the end product of cumulative mismanagement of the past.
Ben also forgets LTTE and JVP are the products of majoritarian Sinhala/Buddhist misgovenance.
He also forgets that the country has been governed by Sinhala/Buddhists and the bureaucracy which is entrusted with building and running the country has been manned by exclusively Sinhala/Buddhists. The government and and the opposition are also elected by majority Sinhala/Buddhist people.
By the way Ben is obsessed with LTTE than VP ever did.
However Ben assured us he had never been a racist.
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Ben Hurling / April 22, 2014
Native,
When did you start punching below the belt? Not very sporty. Is it?
I am hurt by your abusive and unfair attack. Ouch!
Not in line with proud traditions of your ancestors my friend.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / April 22, 2014
Ben Hurling
Please read quotes below which should clarify my comments:
“I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery.
– Jean Jaqueas Rousseau”
“A slave is one who waits for someone else to free him.”
– Rosellen Brown”
“A man is either free or he is not. There cannot be any apprenticeship for freedom. – Imamu Amiri Baraka”
As you have been expressing your views clearly I thought I might as well summarise your position in this forum. Don’t worry you are not alone in this forum holding similar views.
You have been vacillating between two positions. I believe you prefer the third quote to the first one.
Nothing personal.
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Ben Hurling / April 22, 2014
Native,
Quotes are excellent.
Do you read them every night before bed?
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / April 22, 2014
Ben Hurling
“Do you read them every night before bed”
I don’t go to bed.
I couldn’t go to bed while my land is being occupied by stupid Tamils in the North and stupid Sinhalese in the South. I don’t have enough room to stretch my arms or legs in both directions.
While I am wake I eavesdrop on my Elders. I learn from them although I am not clever enough to grasp the finer points.
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sirimal / April 22, 2014
NaaaV@,
ich liebe DIch und Deine Klare Werte (I love you making it very clear). Me too bothered by BH – not once several dozens of times.
Sirimal
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Ben Hurling / April 22, 2014
Sirimal,
Are you upset by my frank comments about “Wanna Be President Again” Ms. CBK?
Cheers!
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Piyasumana / April 20, 2014
If police can allow operation of brothels and illicit liquor breweries, I don’ see anything wrong what the customs fellows do. The inner circles in the Customs termed this type of operations as’ caring sharing’ games.
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Seelawathi Jayasinghe / April 20, 2014
I heard all these fradulent businesses are listed under president´s wife.
Is that true ? I mean including Gold businesses etc. They lady sounded ones as if she s been suffering from asthmatic symptoms in the speech she herself delivered on the women´s day.
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jayanths / April 22, 2014
Everyone talking about when a police donate bale taking a50 ruppee bribed,no one to talk aboutcThisbig time coustem mafia.They are all crooks who all live in palace made with illegal money
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Mohotti / April 20, 2014
Leave poor Leslie Gamini alone. After all he is our media spokesman.
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Badderale / April 20, 2014
[Edited out]
We are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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Amarasiri / April 20, 2014
Badderale,
You better learn English.
Now all the Parayas and even the Native Veddah Aethho have learned English.
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Andreasappuhamy / April 20, 2014
I am interested in knowing where this bugger -the Director Preventive, Leslie Gamini has been – whether he is charged or not ?
Whether he is connected with Rajapakshe genetics ?
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Rohan / April 21, 2014
Water on the duck’s back, mate.
Or, a feather on the cap???
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bandana1948 / April 22, 2014
I do not know, but it is reasonable to assume that he is probably in line for a promotion.
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Fathima Fukushima / April 20, 2014
Sending these ethanol as an alcohol to Jaffna!!!
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Seelawathi Jayasinghe / April 20, 2014
Get back on your medicine. That can help CT readership.
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jayantha / April 22, 2014
she has no Asthma,she had lollipop struck her throught from the day before.
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I am no muslim / April 20, 2014
These are the thing that must be exposed by CT for the good of the country without giving a vent to separatist Eelamists and Islamist extremists.
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Native Vedda / April 20, 2014
I am no muslim
“These are the thing that must be exposed by CT for the good of the country without giving a vent to separatist Eelamists and Islamist extremists.”
I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.-Voltaire
Its about complete freedom of speech and not about your parochial Sinhala/Buddhist selective application of rights of the people.
CT should have banned you and those like minded bigots from commenting in the first place. But I am happy it hasn’t therefore I still believe CT is the best place to learn the process of Democracy.
If you believe CT has a corrupting influence on children please keep out of this forum until you have grown up.
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watchdog / April 20, 2014
We must not forget the actual ground situation.
It is true, that like all other enforcement agencies customs too is corrupt, but we should not forget the fact there are some offices in the Customs, who will never condone frauds under whatever the circumstances and the Customs may be unique in this regard.
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BBS Rep / April 22, 2014
watchdog,
Give me just one name of a honest customs officer.
Or the name of a politician who is not corrupt since time immemorial.
Or the name of a Buddhist monk who is really Buddhist.
Or for that matter any holy man anywhere in the world who is not a fraud.
Or the name of any Sri Lankan, I mean any Sri Lankan who either does not harbour hate, violence, egotistic values or greed.
Just one honest to god name please.
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upali Wijewardene / April 22, 2014
Rajapaksha
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Sama / April 22, 2014
You have named the most conspicous charactor (Mahinda Murderous Rajapakshe) – to be the most abusive, highly corrupted figure even unborn ones would touch it…
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Seelawathi Jayasinghe / April 22, 2014
On the globe, you would not be able to find – totally clean politicians.
But what matters is – less corrupted candidates are there for sure.
Corruption is entwined with finances mostly, but there are a variety of abuses – belonging to the CORRUPTION category.
There, I have no doubt in my mind – Ranil Wickramsinghe is highly less corrupted candidate that the country has to this day. His weakeness are – he cant manipulate LAWFUL PARAGRAPHS – as it is the case with many other candidates in the countries of like minded devloping category.
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punchinilame / April 20, 2014
All the blame for the Countries illness is placed on the Diaspora –
LTTE rump, whilst the Rajapakse-rump goes full blast locally in every
sector.
No change can be foreseen in the near future nor any light at the tunnel
end. This is SL today.
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Rogger / April 20, 2014
One ethanol container is used to produce 8 containers of arrack and all this ethanol are artificial not made from sugar cane. The government incur billions of tax revenue.
On the other hand Poor farmers and the other work force drink this illicit alcohol takes a huge risk.
It is sad that the government turns a blind eye to this lawlessness.
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Saman / April 24, 2014
Ethenol is the main cause for Kidney failure which has rapidly increased recently. Also Ethenol effects, Liver, Bones, eye sight and joints.
Not the Monsanto Pesticides as Government claim.
Someone has to educate public as to how to drink alcohol with minimum damage to body.
One has to use lots of ICE on drinks when drinking liquor in order to dilute alcohol. Also lot of bites (finger food) is necessary when drinking liquor in order to absorb alcohol.
Otherwise the drinker will be in trouble.
Please educate public.
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Exoff / April 20, 2014
The amount of excise duty denied to the government is billions, but no one seems worried about it.
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Ben Dover / April 20, 2014
My take is that the revenue is not lost to the government if it has another home inside the amudeys of those rogues who constitute the major part of government.
Shameful, detestable behaviour.
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Saman / April 21, 2014
Exoff.
Duty revenue denied to the country and Citizen. But Rajapakse Mafia cronies make Billions themselves and now spend over 200 Millon rupees just for one PC candidate alone at PC elections, while other minority parties canot afford even quarter of this amount.
That’s why this is called a Mafia State.
Everybody saw how Police acted during UNP Hambanthota tour.
Only alternative is to get NSA or CIA or other International and Interpol’s help to track down these Government God Father Mafiosas.
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Outsider / April 20, 2014
Most of these Custom Officers engaged in malpractices are nominees of Treasury Secretary.
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JimSofty / April 21, 2014
I heard the govt Cabinet minister involved in the Ehtnaol Racket is a former UNP – MP who came to the govt because of the Sarah Fonseka case. The minister is from the Kurunegala Area ?
Minister has become a very rich person once he became the minister.
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Sowden Edward Asange / April 21, 2014
the one who runs around in a HUMMER I believe… how on earth do these guys make the amount of money while they are supposed to put in writing the assets they have prior to elections… another is the son of Vermin…who runs around in FANCY cars while being UNEMPLOYED…
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Lapatiya / April 21, 2014
@Jimmy,
This time you are completely wrong as we have reliable information that Callum Macrae-Channel 4, Navy Pillay-UN and Tamil Diaspora are behind this story to discredit the Government. I am sure Hon.Arundika Fernando’s story about Prageeth Eknaligoda is also a pure true story. Actually Jimmy I just can’t understand why this fellow Leslie Gamini can’t apply one of the following Madamulana Theories.
1. Mata Mathaka Naha theory.
2. Western Conspiracy theory.
3. “Rajaya Apahasu Thawayata Path kireeme Vipaksha Vaayamak”
4. “Sellam Containers”
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Triple Gem / April 21, 2014
0 0
Azath sally Challeges BBS .
BBS accuses Colombo Telegraph as platform for Minister Weerawanse,Hakeem,Dilan,Risard & vasudeva ..
what does CT think of this?
———————————
http://youtu.be/I3h0theH
http://youtu.be/un-MBEHhbws
3sQ
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Upul / April 21, 2014
Follow the money…Johnston Fernando. Everyone else are simply monkeys hanging on ropes, dancing to his tune. 120 liqour bars???
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carlion / April 21, 2014
I do not understand why people like Ajith, Julampitiye Amare and Amare always lambast the Sinhala Buddhists when someone does anything illegal? Please tell me whether no person of other religions or nationality commit acts of such nature. My assumption is that the above writers are LTTE oriented Tamils who think they are clean and free from sin always ready to attack the Sinhalese and Buddhists for no relative reason to the crime.
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Faheem El -Knight / April 22, 2014
@-carlion
April 21, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Reply
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I do not understand why people like Ajith, Julampitiye Amare and Amare always lambast the Sinhala Buddhists when someone does anything illegal?
===============================================================
The Way the Cookie Crumbles
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When one finger points to another ,three fingers points towards the one who is poining his one finger -so the old saying goes.
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Whenever a Muslim commits a crime – the entire communty is held ramsom ,but when A Sinhalese Buddhist is guilty it seems –it becomes a Sinhalese Buddhist sacramental not even to utter about it …
Hence justice ,hence tolerence ,hence peaceful co-existence
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Piranha / April 22, 2014
There appear to be “ape minihas” in each and every part of the government service and they are all sucking the the country’s coffers dry. This kind of activities will go on as long as you have the Rajapaksa thieves and thugs holding power in the country.
There is no point complaining, either you do something about it, shut up or join the club and rip the country off.
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jayanths / April 22, 2014
Everyone talking about when a police donate bale taking a50 ruppee bribed,no one to talk aboutcThisbig time coustem mafia.They are all crooks who all live in palace made with illegal money
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Velusumana / April 22, 2014
I do not wish to point figure to any particular person.
What I say is that the whole system of governance from the Executive President down words is absolutely corrupt, forcing the innocent citizen to face a slow painful death with all blood sucked out.
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Muhammed Fazl / May 7, 2016
I know about this case… and everything said is true. Apart from Arundika, the key man who imported illegal ethanol was Murali’s Bro….
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Rifki / May 7, 2016
Yes. Sasitharan is the biggest importer of this dirty stuff.
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