Certain prominent Colombo-based ‘human rights professionals’ are making merry, wining and dining in upmarket restaurants, hoodwinking donors by filing expenses under ‘safe’ cost columns, Colombo Telegraph learns.
Hattotuwa
Evidence has surfaced that Sanjana Hattotuwa, an employee of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and the Editor of CPA-funded website Groundviews, has asked the coordinator of CPA’s Media Unit to put down expenses incurred at the Gallery Cafe of Paradise Road Galleries as ‘travel expenses’. Colombo Telegraph learns that Hattotuwa had requested for a cash payment on this occasion. Gallery Cafe is described as “one of Colombo’s most consistently popular restaurants offering international fusion cuisine and few local favourites.”
Incidentally, Hattotuwa was recently removed from the CPA senior staff after verbally abusing a female co-worker.
Documents currently held by Colombo Telegraph indicates that Hattotuwa spent Rs 20,865 on food and alcohol for a night out with friends.
The breakdown of the bill is as follows: Olive Oil Calamari -2- Rs 950.00, Baked Crab – 485.00, Indian Butter Chicken -645.00, Black Pork Curry – 2,- 1,170.00, Fettucine W Lobster – 985.00, Saffron Risotto -925.00, Grilled Lemon Sole – 645.00, Charoon Bushmans Gully – 2,080.00, Shiraz Bushmans Gully – 2,080.00, Feta Olive Ravioli – 535.00, Ginger Ice Cream – 285.00 and Fruit Salad – 235.00. Caiprinha 2 – 1,290.00, Shiraz, Bushmans (Glass) – 2,600.00, Margarita 4 – 2,200.00, Bacadi 2 – 1,200.00, Benson &Hedges Lights – 310.00, Evian (100ML) – 850.00, Choice of Tea – 135.00, Coffee – 160.00, CR Brulee – 325.00, Jaggery Ice Cream – 255.00, Sweet Pumpkin Soup – 265.00, Sri Lankan Fish Head Soup – 255.00.
When asked whether he had on any occasion attempted to secure or had secured money from the CPA in order to defray costs incurred personally, i.e. to pay for goods and/or services unrelated to projects, and whether he had prevailed upon any CPA official to mark expenses under project line items that are not relevant to what was purchased, and whether, in his opinion, it is standard practice in the CPA or in other NGOs he is working with or whose activities he is acquainted with to obtain project monies to cover expenses incurred in activities not related to the relevant projects, he replied as follows:
“I have no idea what you are referring to. Suggest you directly contact and question CPA’s Executive Director in this regard, CC’d to this email.”
Colombo Telegraph then put the question to the Executive Director of CPA Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu in the following manner:
“Are you aware of any transgression of this kind perpetrated by Hattotuwa? In your opinion, is it standard practice in the CPA or in other NGOs you are working with or whose activities you are acquainted with to obtain project monies to cover expenses incurred in activities not related to the relevant projects?”
“The answer to both your questions is no,” Saravanamuttu responded.
When provided the details of the said bill, Hattotuwa again said; “I can only keep reiterating what I have noted clearly before. I do not know what or to whom you are referring to. The person to direct any inquiries in this regard, the Executive Director of CPA, is CC’d to this email.”
However an investigation by Colombo Telegraph has revealed that details provided by the whistleblower are true, and multiple sources confirmed that they are aware of this particular dinner and wine bill incident. The Unit Coordinator has confirmed that Hattotuwa had asked him to put the amount down as travelling and pays him back.
“This was not the only occasion Sanjana wanted me to do that, he was a real pain, I had to balance everything, I was new to the NGO field then” the Unit Coordinator said.
A rural human rights activist and CPA supporter, Gunasena Lukuge last night said that he was shocked by the “lavish” spending, which he said proved that NGOs were failing to apply “basic financial controls”.
“They use aid monies them to fund a glamorous lifestyle way beyond the reach of most of average citizens,” he said.
K.A Sumanasekera / June 3, 2014
Bacardi, Chardonnay , Shiraz and Margarita with so many mouth watering dishes,seem a real degustation menu, Hotta has indulged in with his mates.
Surely Hotta doesn’t go out with Somapalas or Suppiahs after a hard day’s work .
Formulating Alternative Policies for our poor inhabitants to live in peace, harmony prosperity and good health are not light duties.
And the helpers mainly Foreigners who drop into help can’t be dragged to Shanmugas down Ramakrishna Lane for an Iddly and Sambar feed with a Mango Lassie…
What puzzles us is how do these NGO’s feed all these crap stories about how bad they are doing after indulging such good food,
By the way the donors can’t whinge much because , they have to fork out at least 3000 Dollars for a meal of this magnitude in Toronto, London, or New York when they entertain their lobbyist there.
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Native Vedda / June 3, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“Bacardi, Chardonnay , Shiraz and Margarita with so many mouth watering dishes,seem a real degustation menu,”
Sorry I didn’t know you work for an Indian restaurant, or a Tamil owned Off Licence mini super market.
Good to know you have a job.
You are not name dropping are you? On second thought I noticed you have just copied names from the bills. Its perfectly all right.
Do you think it is wrong to swindle few rupees than rob the country of many millions in dollars?
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Punakku recycler / June 3, 2014
Haha! Come on, Native Appuhami, keep this up and you just might get an invite to Fettuccine Hattotuwa’s next royal banquet! It’s all covered by the bleeding heart donors who are OH SO WORRIED about Sri Lanka’s human rights! :D
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Native Vedda / June 3, 2014
Punakku recycler
“Haha! Come on, Native Appuhami, keep this up and you just might get an invite to Fettuccine Hattotuwa’s next royal banquet!”
What is the dress code?
Would you mind if I appropriately dressed in Amudey and an axe on my shoulder?
/
Fareed / June 4, 2014
@Native Veddah
“Would you mind if I appropriately dressed in Amudey and an axe on my shoulder?”
Better change the positions of the axe and the Amude. In other words, wear the Amuday on your shoulder and have the axe right in front, where it should be.Would make an ideal dress code. Only be careful to see that the axe does not go to work till you fnish your Dom Perignon, or you are going to lose an entire generation of Native Veddahs and the BBS thugs and Hela Oorumeeya fellows will be all the more happier because then they can stake a genuine claim to the land of the Lions which they already are striving for by drowning the other minorities.
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Punakku recycler / June 4, 2014
Don’t ask me, ask Olive Oil Sanjana about the dress code.
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Sven Perera / June 5, 2014
“Would you mind if I appropriately dressed in Amudey and an axe on my shoulder? “
This is interesting, NV.
We the right respecting ones would not care even if you are naked so long your comments are valuable as always have been sofar. One of the reasons me to come and check the news is not necessarily the article, but the comments being added by you and few other gentlemen. That is it.
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JimSofty / June 4, 2014
NAtive Vedda:
You should be another thief, If that is what you say about..
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 4, 2014
Dear Native,
There is always the odd one out. Isn’t it?.
Diaspora dudes whom I know go out occasionally to indulge in fine dining.
But I doubt whether they pay 40 bucks plus for even a cheap bottle of plonk in London Toronto and Sydney.
But I love the Mutton curry in Scarborough with the freshly fried patties in those ex LTTE take away shops.
Why go to Indian restaurants to load up with Mustard oil and Ghee.
Our Srilankans make the best curries in the world although your mate Hotta went for fusion cusine in Cafe Galleria.
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Ben Hurling / June 3, 2014
Sir,
Feta Olive Ravioli followed by Jaggery Ice Cream? There we go!
A funny fusion of ancient Greek/Roman/Mediterranean style with nothing but the best of Indian Ocean/SL Serendipity.
This guy is a refined fellow man! Too bad he gets others to foot his bills.
Hotta should consider joining the corrupt UPFA bandwagon. Sri Lanka treasury is now being emptied only by a few chosen cronies of the Hambantota Clan. Hotta can easily join King’s inner circle of parasites. Shamelessly feeding off one of the poorest countries on the planet.
Besides Hotta is not the only one to frequent The Gallery Cafe, while on a break from complicated Policy Alternatives. I often see his Boss there too.
Cheers!
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Eusense / June 3, 2014
BH,
Do you know when this bill is dated?
/
Benn Hurling / June 4, 2014
Nope. Why does it matter?
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Leelagemalli / June 5, 2014
Actually I wonder why you guys bother discussing this kind of articles ?
It should be an issue between the those who met with the problems.
It is really funny you guys keep adding your two cts worth as if you dont have anything better to be engaged with.
Good luck to you all.
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Wimal / June 3, 2014
Who ate the page 3 of the bill?
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Punakku recycler / June 3, 2014
Sanjana probably still felt peckish after all that.
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Ram / June 3, 2014
One does not expect the dollarwallahs to betray the nation for peanuts. It has long been a most sought after form of ’employment’.
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Ben Hurling / June 3, 2014
Ram,
You absolutely right.
UPFA Cronies & Henchmen charge Sri Lanka’s treasury a hell of a lot more. To rob & betray Sri Lanka left and right.
Unprecedented, massive corruption running into Billions not counted mate.
And you are worried about Hotta’s Cafe Bill of Rs. 20 000,-.
Give me & and the nation a freakin’ break man!
Cheers!
/
Fitzpatrick / June 3, 2014
Oh still waiting for your proof “Ram”
Don’t run away, give me the answer
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len / June 5, 2014
Ram hypocrites are in abundance reminds me of this Sri Lankan joker call Antony in New Zealand but keep bad mouthing Kiwis. I think you know the guy well.
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douglas / June 3, 2014
“A rural human rights activist said ……he was “SHOCKED” by the “Lavish Spending” of CPA….”
No wonder “Mr/Ms. Rural Activist”. All of you are blind folded not only by these “elite” community of NGOs but also led like a heard of cattle to make a very comfortable life for themselves and families. This is exactly what your “Elected Representatives” in the Legislature are doing to you. What remains at the end of the day is nothing but “SHOCK”. To put this in your own words this is called: “Illam Parippu Kanawa”. You never learn and are not allowed to learn. So live with what you ask for and get.
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paul / June 5, 2014
“Illang Parippu Kanawa”.
Agreed. For 66 long years…:-)
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paul / June 3, 2014
What is untold here is that there were 10 of us at the dinner and to be fair Hotta had 2 chapatis, some butter chicken, and 1 glass of shiraz only..During and after the meal we discussed important business..serious HR violations going on in the country among them to report to the head office. It was good value for money by any standard, I must say..
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Gaje / June 3, 2014
Maybe it is wrong to use an entertainment allowance! However Sarawanamuttu should look after that! I think CT web space should not be wasted on some personal attack in a battle of editors! We want to hear of unbiased reports of human rights abuses !!
Since recently the website is full of articles written by LTTE supporters who were the biggest human rights abusers!! I would not like a good website to be tilted towards LTTE or the govt! I am losing interest in the site!!
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Lanka Liar / June 3, 2014
A very good humanitarian operation. May be he was entertaining some guest probably an Australian politician can buy them with a meal.
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Upul / June 3, 2014
Wait, Wait, Wait!!! Be Patient Aney!
Lets see what the other bills look like. The perpetrator is quite cocky no action will be taken because it seems to be the norm to cover personal entertainment under official expenses.
Come on! Most of us have been entertained by better-off friends on the tab.
In this instance it a bit vile, because it is supposedly a NGO.
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Jack Point / June 3, 2014
Let us try to understand the issues at hand. There is an allegation that there are incorrect or wrongful expense claims being made.
How do we define what is incorrect or wrongful? If this were a person holding public office they it would be covered under the Financial Regulations (link below) and Administrative Regulations.
http://www.treasury.gov.lk/public-finance-guidance-pfd/financial-regulations.html
As a privately funded intitute it would be governed by whatever internal policies are applicable, which we do not have access to. The person malking the allegations claims that it is against policy, but the public are not in any position to judge. Dinner at a restaurant sounds like good fun, but it may be legitimate if the people entertained were those falling within the applicable rules (if any) at CPA, which we do not know.
This brings me to the crux of the problem: there is an allegation of financial irregularity but since this institute takes no public money is of no interest to the ordinary citzen; apart from perhaps providing some cheap and tawdry entertainment. This is a matter for the donors and staff of the institute to worry about. It is not that governance is unimportant, it is just that this matter is not of any public interest.
If it were PUBLIC money, TAXPAYERS money, THEN there is legitimate public interest in ensuring that there is no abuse. Public servants and bodies are funded by taxpayers, which is why the rules they are governed by are public. It would be possible to determine what types of spending were permitted and the procedures to be followed in the case of a public body and therefore make some informed judgement about the basic case being made.
Instead of looking at the real issues, I’m afraid all that is happening here is some rather cheap thrills, people oohing and ahhing over size of the bill and the choice of courses.
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Ahmed / June 3, 2014
@Jack Point
Exactly TO THE POINT. Well done and congrats on your sensible analysis.
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Navin / June 4, 2014
If it were PUBLIC money, TAXPAYERS money, THEN there is legitimate public interest in ensuring that there is no abuse.
—
Public does have an interest in what NGO’s do with their money though it is not coming out of their taxes.
Please be very CLEAR on this matter.
NGO’s do not make money through business. They obtain money from other agencies to act in the interest of public, to campaign for democracy, justice, media freedom, spend on public welfare on so forth.
This is money obtained in the name of public to be spent for their betterment.
So they have every right to question how NGO’s spend money.
I don’t see how Sanjana having a Bacardi helps any of CPA’s stated objectives!
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Punakku recycler / June 3, 2014
So what shall we call him now? Calamari Sanjana? Olive Oil Hattotuwa? Ravioli SH? The choices are endless! :D
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Gangi / June 3, 2014
It is very clear that this article has been poorly fabricated with the sole hatred objective of damaging the image of Groundviews editor, Sanjana Hattotuwa.
Anybody can scan a bill and say that whatever he or she wants to say…
Why the writer is not giving the time of this incident? when did this happen? why there is no date on the bill?
It has always been a mystery to me, who Colombo Telegraph is serving for? By publishing this kind of “articles” full or hatred, CT telegraph is serving not anybody else, but the enemies of human rights in Sri Lanka..
Readers, please read the writer’s motives also, before you rush to comment…..Don’t let anybody who wants to make ugly personal attacks blind you with their irrelevant, unsubstantiated fabrications…
CT must be fulfilling one of it’s commitments to the Rajapakse government…..Readers of this website should be alert!
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paul / June 5, 2014
Agree with you Gangi. CT editor and journalists: remember your mission is to promote anyone who speak against sinhala modayas, buddhist modayas and rajapaksa clan modayas. This news story is a serious lapse in your judgement I must say.:-)
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Vibhushana / June 3, 2014
There are certain things worthy of exposure. I don’t think a restaurant bill is one of them.
Speaking of transparency and accountability, who owns/funds this blog? There is no mention of names in the About page.
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pearl thevanayagam / June 3, 2014
It is about time Sanjana is exposed. When Prof. Mike Jempson the co-founder of Exiled Journalists Network told me about this journalist Sanjana who is following a Master’s in an Australian uni, I told him that to my knowledge he had never worked for news media.
The way he conducts interviews on vimeo in that how he could never allow the interviewee direct quotes shows his lack of journalistic ethics. He only writes pompously about the brilliant questions he asks and the response of the befuddled interviewee in third person.
No wonder there is no news in Groundviews except some piddling academic papers
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meezan / June 3, 2014
This Pearl woman is no shining pearl. She smirks of untainted jealousy with a capital J and perhaps an ample dollop of racist hatred for Sanjana.
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Peter CasieChetty / June 6, 2014
Absolutely right! She [Edited out].
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Beeta Akka / June 3, 2014
“Bacardi, Chardonnay , Shiraz and Margarita with so many mouth watering dishes”
So what Aney; A thinking, working man needs to eat and drink no. And Sanjana is not like any thuppahi politician who is spending all his time eating drinking every day at 5 star hotels out of the poor Somapalas budget. When he is not drinking chardonnay, he is busy sweating his guts out for the human rights victims. Also, he has taste and class, not like the Modawansas who go after Pol and Gal.
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Navin / June 4, 2014
Beeta Akka is a real “classy” fellow. Believes drinking Bacardi has class and Pol/Gal is not….
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Bedrock Barney / June 3, 2014
Go for it Sanjana. Live it up. why not? You don’t have to answer to Uvindu of any other mother. You have and are continuing to do your bit. All of us have our faults and if yours is to go out and imbib with friends and get the bossman to to pay for it. Good for you. I have been doing that to bosses for years. Most of the colombo crowd do. They even throw plates at the waiter after a few drinks
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Tamodaya / June 4, 2014
Typical of all human rights activists!
Now their funding will be cut off. GOOD.
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dingiri / June 5, 2014
Can the Telegraph please publish the names of those at the dinner party. Calling them Sanjana’s “friends” is not really good enough. Were they others involved in the advocacy, rights,community service, govt, media secotors? People he should be building relationships with in which case this could be legitimately called business entertaining. Or were they people unrelated to his work such as class mates from school, family members, neighbours etc. in which case it can be fairly called “fiddling one’s expenses”.
As for his western donors.. £100 spent on entertaining 12 people would be considered excellent value for money considering the same exercise would cost at least ten times that amount at a bar in london or NY.
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Piranha / June 4, 2014
CT, why don’t you publish the expense accounts of the leeches in the government who are emptying the treasury on a daily basis? Sanjana’s bill is peanuts compared to the huge amounts these governing parasites spend.
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Spring Koha / June 4, 2014
What a ha-ho! If this is the best we can do to pin down Sanjana then, God help us. If as Paul says there were ’10 of us’ then they must have been on some kind of diet. Hacks in the great wide yonder would stuff their gizzards with 20K worth just for starters and a warm up glass of something soothing. Call off the chase guys, keep your powder dry for when we find something juicier.
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kk / June 4, 2014
Tamil Diaspora please pay that bill because Hattotuwa is propagating various HR issues to the world and diaspora is benefiting from that therefore they should pay his bills
This is what all F…..king HR defenders do they live luxary life from donations and writing crap articles to satisfy donnars and tarnishing SL images
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Reeza / June 4, 2014
These days, 20,500 for a night out dining is nothing; Ask our politicians. So, whats the big fuss? Nothing to see here folks, move on. The next street drama will unravel soon to keep your idle minds engrossed. May as well be, now that Vesak is over and the pandal lights have been dimmed.
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Mikhael / June 5, 2014
Speaking like a true politician Reeza
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Babsy / June 5, 2014
As a concerned citizen I strongly believe that Sanjana should reply to CT and clear his name and demonstrate his integrity.
It’s appalling to hear that staff attached to INGOs/NGOs/NNGOs (International Non Governmental Organizations, Non Governmental Organizations, National Nongovernmental Organisations) working in the development sector could behave in such manner undermining the very work of NGOs. It can be especially harmful and have an effect on reputation, funding and donations. NGOs should show better operational efficiency and accountability to the government especially when they finger point the government. We all know that the most effective way to deal with corruption is to expose it and that’s what CT has done.
It’s just few days ago that Transparency International launched the governance report which highlighted their findings on corruption in the State sector in several fields.
Though we have focused much on public sector corruption in the last two decades, we have not even adequately initiated public debate to bring this emerging yet highly vulnerable sector within the purview of anti-corruption law. Hence, INGOs/NGOs/NNGOS must put their house in order by addressing accountability, transparency and internal governance issues before anything.
Non-transparent working culture, weak internal control system, nepotism and family hegemony are some of the traits that best characterize the composition of most NGOs especially national NGOs like Sarvodaya and Sevalanka. Although the non-profit sector mobilizes a significant proportion of aid most NGOs yet don’t have internal anti-corruption policy and mechanism to manage corruption.
No one dares question their integrity, transparency and poor governance, not even the government that has authority to check, regulate and monitor their activities. Very often government officials and the very top are
Hence, it’s high time INGOs/NGOs performance; accountability and transparency are monitored and scrutinized in order to regulate the non-profit sector due to colossal resources channeled into this sector since 1980s from international donors and charities.
Therefore, immediate steps must be taken to provide a clear space for NGOs to freely pursue their mandate. Second, it ought to clearly outline rights, responsibilities, and standards of accountability and transparency to comply with. And third, it should establish robust checks and balances in which the authorities can use legal powers to prevent and penalize unlawful activities. This could be done by an independent body supported by all stakeholders. Only when these bold challenging measures are met to reform its legal regime, then only our non-profit sector will move toward high degree of accountability and transparency.
Donor community that doles out financial support must also take responsibility in the ills that NGOs have been involved in. They hardly bother to look into internal governance issue, membership size and family hegemony while providing assistance to the NGOs/NNGOs. Change in donor policy and approach will definitely set a milestone in making the non-profit sector accountable and transparent.
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Jayantha / June 6, 2014
How come CT does not question how the President Rajapakse spends 20 Million Rupees per day as his personal expense. Isn’t this a shame to maintain a president and his cabinet at this level
President’s daily personal expense budget allocation is Rupees 20 Million and we tax payers want to know why and how he spends this much money.
Sanjay is Peanuts compared to the corruptions happening in our State sector while poor farmers pansion fund is been deprived to them and poor peoples milk powder prices are raised even during the world prices are coming down.
What a shame and what a country.
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Dilky Joseph / June 5, 2014
I feel compelled to write in. Speaking for myself I value Mr Hattotuwa’s comments and find his interviews interesting as well as educational. I am proud and glad he is a Sri Lankan. Whatever he eats and drinks, I don’t grudge it one little bit. In fact I don’t mind contributing to the NGO towards this. His writing, his interviews, and his ethics and the manner in which he conducts himself in these two areas is admirable! More power to your brain, voice and pen Mr Hattotuwa !
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Lionel Palihawadana / June 5, 2014
I cannot understand this. Some of your readers are
commenting on the good things Sanjana has done without
so much as saying where he has erred. Do the bad deeds
they have done become good only because of the nice
things they say.
All these NGO wallahs need to be probed. They receive
the money in the name of the public of Sri Lanka. Why
blame only the politicians when they misuse public funds?
People like Sanjaya have been acting like watchdogs/ Now if
this is what they are upto, there is a saying in Sinhala
of how the bund and the fence ate the paddy crop.It is just
one of those cases.
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Liberal One / June 5, 2014
exposed? these [Edited out] were exposed long ago.
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Peter Casie Chetty / June 6, 2014
Free media? Rubbish! Where are my comments about Pakayasothy, Sunanda and Sunila? How does Jehan feed his wife and child? What is the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence doing when there is Election violence? CT you are “divers” like in football. Cheats in other words.
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Lasantha / June 6, 2014
CT also should investigate how the royal family spends lavishly on meals entertainment at President’s house.
Nobody knows what the finall CHOGM bill yet, except we saw how guests were treated and entertained like Maharajas at various hotels without any use to our country.That was a real “Gamayata Megic” sort of show off at the expense of Sri Lankan tax payer.
Also many of our UN and foreign ministry staff and their local and foreign guests are well treated lavishly with our Tax payers money.
The Tamil problem could have solved soon after we won the EELAM war, but was dragged on for so long simply because the rulers want to make a Political milestone out of it. Nothing else.
Also Gen.Sarath Fonseka said that when he met President on weekly basis during the war, he was well treated and well fed with over five different types of Meat alone served at Araliya Gaha Medura and he felt frustrated with the whole wastage of Taxpayer money.
Also someone told that he has never seen the collection of Liquors that is available at the President’s house anywhere in the world.
CT should investigate and report some of these lavish spending by our Maha Raja at the President’s house and his Ministers at our Tax Payer’s expense.
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Sun / June 6, 2014
Yes this is a very good point, Lasantha.
How many times I asked myself, why the state should bear that huge sums of maintenance security etc sendiing President to open tiny labs across the country as had done specially shortly before last election, remember ?
No any civilized world would see it right – the way he spent millions if not billions for that.. it was just for his popularity -lanken Mugabe is living in a world where evey 5th is said to have no proper meals but only bitter gaurd to eat… His offsprings dare to say that their only choice woudl be high brand items when it goes for their shopping… I question, Dr Anjal Merkle or any western leader would ever allow anyone to waste state funds to the manner… they without delay criticise it … previouly germany´s former president was alleged to have spent some extra funds gotten from his rich business friends caused him to resign from his presidency. But in our place, in the stinking made island today.. people go for Kiribath eating party – though knowing their leader only abuses people´s funds. If you take for example SRILANKEN how many times they abuse the flights… for their service.. at the time CBK was in office, she did not do so. Nor had JR or any other leader abused the lanken airline to the manner MR has done sofar. So does his brother in law too…. as if all these are taken to their private properties. Why the stupid nation, senior politicos stay as if fed with KIRIMATI is the quesiton that I found no answers. All these are seen as should be… taking for granted has become normal to people today.
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kk / June 6, 2014
Theses idiots are selling sole of innocent people to grab the NGO money and enjoying their life without doing anything to the victims
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NAK / June 6, 2014
Oh.. what a shame! Poikyasothy won’t pay him enough to have a decant meal that he has to cheat and squeeze the bill in to travelling expenses !!! After all the muck and trash he carries for him! shame on you Poikiyasothy shame on you.
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Gangi / June 6, 2014
CT editor seems to be having a personal problem with Centre for Policy Alternatives. I can remember him publishing a stream of articles about Sunanda Deshapriya some time ago. That time also, he showed some bills and tried to tarnish Sunanda Deshapriya’s image saying that is a corrupt person….then he brought Dr. P. Saravanamuttu to the scene.
Now he has chosen Sanjana!
As I know CT editor was an employee of CPA some years ago…It is obvious that he personally hates CPA and it’s high profile staff…
It seems that CT editor has been contracted by the Rajapakse regime to damage the public image of these activists, who have been making an invaluable contribution to enhance the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka…At this crucial moment, why CT editor suddenly puts out an article like this? Sanjana and CPA’s Groundviews is doing a great work. Sanjana personally has been very brave and consistent in his efforts as a journalist. Sunanda has been doing the same….
In this crucial moment, what we ought to do is to protect this kind of journalists and activists…Sri Lanka has only few people of this kind at this moment….and now our responsibility is to strengthen them…Not to try so hard to pull something irrelevant out and ruin their public images…
We should salute Sanjana Hattotuwa for the work he is doing at this moment….He easily can get side with the government and betray everything and become a mufti millionaire in one night…His expertise is rare, and he can easily give up Groundviews and CPA and join a private company and make lot of money….But he is still there, editing Groundviews, and serving as a senior researcher at CPA….We should salute Sanjana for his commitment to protect the rights of the people in our country…
CT has made a cheap try to take a revenge…we don’t know for what….But what CT editor doing is acting against the defenders of human rights in Sri Lanka….You better go and work openly for Gotabhaya Rajapakse and his brother’s regime..
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Gangi Jangi / June 6, 2014
Oh Jangi, this is what “Gota’s” Lanka Enews reported.
Fire eating Sunanda Deshapriya vomits ember
(Lanka-e-News, Dec.19, 2008, 12.00 PM) ‘Lanka-e-News’ learns that well known NGO activist Sunanda Deshapriya has been sacked by Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA) following a probe regarding a financial fraud.
Deshapriya acted as the chief of the media section of the CPA as well as the spokesman of the Free Media Movement.
Sunanda Deshapriya has been found guilty for swindling Rs. 200,000 and probes are underway regarding frauds amounting millions of rupees.
Investigations have exposed that the Secretary and Chairman of the Working Journalists’ Association have also partnered Deshapriya in the fraud of Rs. 200,000 and the relevant cheque has been deposited in an account belonged to one of the five media organizations.
Meanwhile, the international security fund set up to help the threatened journalists of Sri Lanka has also suspended releasing funds since the fund has come to know that Deshapriya and the Secretary and Chairman of the Working Journalists’ Association have withdrawn money giving false reasons.
Free Media Movement has also commenced an investigation regarding the financial transactions during the period Deshapriya was the Convener. However, the probes have reportedly become strenuous since proper accounting and auditing systems have not been maintained during that period.
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=6852
Gota’s relative P Sara said;
Dr. Paikiasothy Sarawanamuttu, the Executive Director of the Centre For Policy Alternatives in a Press release dated 19 December revealed:
“The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) accepted today the resignation of Mr. Sunanda Deshapriya, former Director and former Head of the Media Unit, with immediate effect. Mr. Deshapriya was associated with CPA since 2002.
Mr. Deshapriya has personally returned in full money owed to the organization after an investigation into financial anomalies of a project he was responsible for.
The Board of CPA will meet on Monday, 22nd December 2008, to consider the issues arising from the resignation of Mr. Deshapriya.”
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Jayagath Perera / June 8, 2014
In fairness to everybody, I must say that there is no conclusive proof that a particular Mr. X was billed by the restaruant, as the name does not appear on the bill. It must also be admitted, in fairness, that no name appears on the bills of this kind.
However, allegations of this kind, whether billing personal expenses on company account or plundering the national economy, is common in these parts of the world. The motto appears to be “Make hay while the sun shines”.
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