A letter signed by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake which calls on the ex-Governor Arjuna Mahendran to raise Rs. 75 billion in just one month shows many grave errors in the official communication. The controversial letter was submitted by Mahendran’s lawyers to the Bond Commission investigating the matter.
Incidentally, this letter has been typed out on a letterhead which appears to be used only for internal communication purposes at the ministry and has been addressed in an odd manner ‘to whom it may concern.’ Another serious issue in the letter is that there is no date in it, although Karunanayake’s signature has been placed at the bottom of the letter. It also wrongly mentions that Malik Samarawickrama was a Cabinet Minister on 26th of February 2015.
The letter bears no contact information or even an address which is the standard norm of any letterhead, especially if used for outside communication purposes, and for such matters of serious financial transaction orders. The letter submitted by the ex-governor’s lawyers aim to justify Mahendran’s action to issues treasury bonds worth Rs. 10 billion on 27th of February 2015.
nosey parker / May 18, 2017
Are you sure this is not a joke ? I am certain this has been written by an A Level student at RC as a prank .
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Native Vedda / May 18, 2017
nosey parker
Or is it a letter supporting an elaborate billion rupee con? —- Something similar to the letter issued in December 2013 by the Secretary to the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe to Customs to clear a container containing high value (Rs 150 Million) heroin. In an interview to Daily Mirror he said many things in order to absolve himself from the allegation. He is excerpt, —–Q: To clarify, did you issue the letter and sign it? If so, was the PM aware of it?
Yes I issued the letter and I signed it myself. The PM was not aware of it at the time but I told informed him about it once this issue surfaced.
Q: Do you take any responsibility for what has happened?
No neither I nor the PM are responsible for this. I resigned in order to respect the government and to assist them in the inquiry – not because I was guilty. I have not done anything wrong with regard to this matter. I think the people who are responsible have been arrested.
Q: How is the situation affecting you and the PM?
Legally, it is not a problem for me. The problem is the political issue. Some opponents are blowing this out of proportion and presenting false facts for their own political gains. (Shihara Maduwage) ——–
http://www.dailymirror.lk/40152/i-had-absolutely-nothing-to-do-with-heroin#sthash.4otWQ8FE.dpuf.
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Silva CC / May 19, 2017
PM IN PARLIAMENT SAYS THESE BONDS ISSUED TO PAY FOR MR ERA LOANS… !
FM SAYS IT WAS USED TO CONSTRUCT ROADS…..?
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THE “URGENT ROAD” CONSTRUCTION CARRIED OUT WITH THE 75 BILLION RUPEES……?
WE WERE TOLD ALL ROADS ARE BUILT WITH CHINESE LOANS….?
THEN WHERE DID THE CHINESE LOAN GO TO…..?
NOW ITS WELL OVER TWO YEARS SINCE THIS BOND WAS RAISED TO CONSTRUCT THIS “URGENT ROAD” (WORTH 75 BILLION LKR). CAN THE CITIZENS OF THIS LAND NOW, KNOW WHERE THIS MIGHTY ROAD LOCATED…………………………..?
FISH STINKS FROM ITS HEAD……………………………….!!!!!!
GOD SAVE THE GON-PALANAYA……………..!!!!
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Simon De Silva / May 19, 2017
This can be comparable with the previous letters had been circulating by them.
The kind of documents look as if came into being from a dust bin:
Ministerial letters should be well recognized. Where have these men been taking us the nation to ?
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srinath gunaratne / May 19, 2017
No Man this how gon palana government make monetary policy decisions!
He ah hhooohh hhhoooo hhhhooooooo!
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Simon De Silva / May 19, 2017
Why put all in one Bin, Srinath Gunaratnam ?
We respect your beloved leader to have given lead to eleminate terror. But we would not support him and his barbaric brother to have grabbed entire cake not sharing the due.
You the kind of asylum seekers living in the UK to realize it let alone today, that current affairs are being under scrutiny than had been in the days of Mafia king who looted to the core.
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Analyst / May 19, 2017
This letter looks well crushed and folded bits to hide truth.
Official letters are supposed to be filed and be ready for references.
Third world country ( srilanka) crooks are in every walks of life that includes the PM, Prez, and so called Ministers in the high echelon of the society.
We thought the crooks were in the last government only and now changed colour and name to Yahapalanaya.
Disgraced country and rulers sorry to say it’s my country too!!!
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nalmen / May 18, 2017
the commission should call up ravi and ask him to explain
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Douglas / May 18, 2017
Did the AG’s Department Deputy Solicitor General assisting the Commission “murmured” in the ear of the defense lawyer and asked: “Did you obtain this letter last night”?. The reply of the defense lawyer appearing for Mr. Mahendran can very well be assumed to be “Yes”; because when he was questioned by the Commission, whether he intends to summon the Minister of Finance to prove its authenticity, he firmly said “NO”. So, if both the Defense Lawyer and the Minister involved are not going to substantiate the document and its contents, the Commission must take a very serious look at the “modus operandi ” adopted by the Lawyer for Mr. Mahendran to “mislead” the on going inquiries. Please note, this letter was shown to the witness and it was he who pointed that there was no date on it and there was no mention of the mane of the Governor of CB. With that this document became an “official document” of the Commission. Therefore this “Lawyer” must be reported for “grave misconduct” and possibly debarred from participating in the inquiry any further.
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Common Sense / May 18, 2017
I think I can laugh my sides out. If the probing process is serious then it becomes incumbent for the Commission to summon Ravi K. as to whether he owns up the letter. If he does, then there are a lot of questions Ravi K has to answer and I need not elaborate. If Ravi disowns the letter then there should be a probe as to the genuiness of the letter and another line of inquiry follows.
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SJ / May 19, 2017
The Minister and Malik S should give evidence.
The letter lacks in specifics.
So, it has to be made clear whether the former Governor was instructed to do anything unusual. The former Governor has on earlier occasion indicated something to the effect that he was instructed.
If what was done was wrong, he is guilty and the one(s) who led or misled him to do wrong are as guilty.
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Upali / May 19, 2017
Ravi doesn’t have to say that the country needed money. Everybody knew that the country was bankrupt.That’s why MR called for early elections.
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NAK / May 19, 2017
An endless comedy!!
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Native Vedda / May 19, 2017
NAK ———–“An endless comedy!!” ——————————– True since 4th February 1948, a tragicomedy perhaps.
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muthubanda / May 19, 2017
This looks like an insurance policy obtained by AM from RK to cover his back in case there was a subsequent investigation. That would explain the Ministry letterhead and the “To whom it may concern”!
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jimsofty / May 19, 2017
Out of the billions they collected they spent some billions to buy super luxury TOYOTA Land Cruisers for every minister and MP
Country is almost closure to bankruptcy, and the govt is talking about austerity measures which will come pretty soon.
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K A Sumanasekera / May 20, 2017
Why the Defence Counsel of Mahendran produce a bogus letter to a Royal Commission…..Mahendran insisted all l along that his mate Dr Ranil gave him the instructions…Even an OL student would know that Malik Samare, and Galleon Ravi planned the heist, to be carried out by Singapore Mahendran ..It was aimed at filling the UNP coffers and top up the Fighting Fund going forward. And help Mahendran’s SIL become another Dhammika Perera in Srilanka , through whom the UNP funds can be launder.ed…..Whether Dr Batalanda Ranil gave the ok is anyone’s guess. ,,It is up to Sira’s Royal Commission to tell the Yahapalana suckers the Truth , nothing but the whole Truth.,,Will it happen …Being a betting man, I wouldn’t put money on it…But I bet that the main Defence Counsel couldn’t be an idiot to give a piece paper to a Royal Commission with a fake signature of the best Treasurer in Asia, if not the World..
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Native Vedda / May 20, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera ————————“Why the Defence Counsel of Mahendran produce a bogus letter to a Royal Commission” —————– It is something less similar to Ministry of Budddasasana instructing the Customs Department to release container with Rs150 million worth of drugs in 2013. I don’t expect you remember any thing that happened under Clan’s rule. ———————Any how why do sound like Bandula Jayasekera?
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s.c.perera / May 20, 2017
Actually this letter is an affidavit which was produced to confirm, on 27.02.2015 the minister had requested to collect 75 billion rupees to restart the projects that had been stopped due to lack of funds. That’s all. The minister’s request might be a verbally given instruction. This may be the real reason to why the governor of CB accepted higher amount of TBs.
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K A Sumanasekera / May 20, 2017
Your seem smaer than Native Vedda…. We know Galleon bought a Warf Warehouse in Daughter’s name and he is building a kick ass Mansion close to Kotte for the Missus……. Can you name any other projects Galleo and or his boss Dr Batalanda Ranil have restarted ???.
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Ranjith / May 21, 2017
What is the Issue with Ravi’s letter ? Whether Ravi needed 75 Bn or 150 Bn, Mahendran would have got the Public Debt Dept. raise the funds in a proper manner without acting in a manner for Perpetual Treasuries to benefit improperly.
Investigators should concentrate on that matter without being misled.
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K.Pillai / May 21, 2017
The bond issue is getting “curioser and curioser”. Looks like Ravi K did issue the instruction but it is the duty of Mahendran to do this legally and appear to do so..
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