UNP National List MP Ashu Marasinghe has questioned as to how the Rajapaksa family whose total earnings since 1970 was Rs. 20 million, find Rs. 340 million to fund a private television channel.
Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Marasinghe pointed out that Mahinda Rajapaksa who has been a Parliamentarian since 1970 to date has earned approximately Rs. 13 million, while his eldest son, Namal Rajapaksa has earned some Rs. 4 million during the past 60 months as an MP.
“Yoshith Rajapaksa, who is a Lieutenant of the Sri Lanka Navy, has earned approximately Rs. 3.1 million, according to his monthly salary of Rs. 28,435. So, this totals the Rajapaksa family earnings since 1970 to around Rs. 20 million,” he noted.
“So, the question is, how did Yoshitha get Rs. 340 million to fund this Carlton Sports Network television channel?,” Marasinghe asked.
Sinchoappu / February 12, 2016
This is so evident to even 10 year olds that these people have abused the nation s wealth to core.
These men – so called pragamatic leader of the nation, never thought that he journey would end up this. Current rulers will deserve the due credit with the time. Even very same folks would never let Rajapakshes to manipulate further. Enough is enough. They are caught by their horns this time.
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Seelawathie / February 12, 2016
It is high time Rajapakshe to see it LET ALONE today, that malice devious agendas can not work for the entire life time. People are no such fools as they are appeared to be.
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sama / February 12, 2016
Seelawathie,
they would never realize it. Nor would they allow poor masses to grasp.
They always respond not to the questions being raised, but like koheda yanne malle pol – evasive maneouer.. but how long all these would last further is my question.
Social media enjoying youth will have to do their job properly – which is do lot more making the folks aware of the REALITY but reality.
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Seelawathie / February 12, 2016
When he is quesitoned by HIS MEDIA men – he always prevaricate….
He has to respond where the funds have been coming from ?
This is a very simple question if he has nothing to hide further.
And as to why he appointed his son to the position even if the boy even failed OLVELs.
Why the boy was sent to train in the UK and Uktraine ?
Why the boy was sent to holidays over 30 times to various countries abusing the tax payers funds ?
Blunt questions and blunt answers would clear everything.
Today, everythign is easy if FORMER powerful man can LET alone today comphrehend the gravity of problems he deliberately creatd, not only to the nation but also to his family – where had his law degree knowledge been ?
I have no doubt, this man has not the average IQ – lets bet ?
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anticorruptionforever / February 12, 2016
Ditta dammawedaneeya seems to be at its high function.
At the time, SARATH fonsekar was puished disrepecting all the ethics and morals, these men were giving DANSAL and partying…. having seen the revengeful agendas to have worked for them:
But SF was very patient… and never shed a tear drop, he thought he will be free from all – since truth will succeed.
By today, SF has succeeded the truth while all the culprits in Rajapakshe family have been targeted by lanken courts and law and order ministries.
What we do to others, will u turn to us within this life – is becoming clear to me even more day to another.
Kala kala de pala palade – lanken saying – “What goes around comes around”
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AM / February 14, 2016
Absolutely. He Sarath Fonseka was simply fabricated for contesting that election.MR had no education a lawyer, though.I have two friends I consider them as idiots as far as the general knowledge is concerned and are lawyers who are stupid to the core.But they are lawyers.Only do land deals.This Mahinda was a murderer and had no qualification at all or IQ to be the president of the country.Premadasa was a far better President than him.Just imagine when Tsunami was killing people in his own constituent he credited all the money received for emergency welfare to his sister’s account.All I am trying to highlight here is that MR has been a crook for all his life and he is seeing in his own eyes that he is failed father, failed politician, a thug, murderer,womaniser, thief who stole money from poor people .There is no heaven or hell in this world .Mental suffering is the worst punishment you face more than anything else and you are dying painfully every day until the real death which is peaceful.
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Game on / February 17, 2016
MR in his own words said Mental Torture is worse than the Electric Chair. He is mentally tormented and that is great news!!!!!!
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Amarasiri / February 12, 2016
RE: How Did CSN Find 340 Million When Entire Rajapaka Family Earned 20 Million
“UNP National List MP Ashu Marasinghe has questioned as to how the Rajapaksa family whose total earnings since 1970 was Rs. 20 million, find Rs. 340 million to fund a private television channel.”
Use Common Sense. You will Understand.
In Sinhala it is called, Dhushanaya.
They understand that there are a lot of Sri Lankans who do not understand.
Example” Wimal Buruwansa says, 2/2 =0, and he gets 300,000 preferential votes in the Colombo district.
/
thrishu / February 13, 2016
It only shows that there are 300,001 donkeys/asses in Colombo. Nothing unusual about it; same as 250,001 donkeys/asses that followed a mirage into Nanthikadaal. In the latter case 246,000 had the good sense to turn back.
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Amarasiri / February 13, 2016
thrishu
300,001 and 250,001 Donkeys must have been Para-donkeys.
/
Asoka / February 13, 2016
HOW PREMADASA AND HIS FAMILY BECAME BILLIONAIRES? ARE THEY BORN RICHEST FAMILY OF SRI LANKA OR CEYLON?
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Dilshan Silva / February 15, 2016
As far as I am concerned, no politician is better than the other. Prostitutes sell their body to make a living. Where as, the uneducated politicians sell their MP badge to make billions in illicit money.
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Desparitythoughts / February 12, 2016
Hey guys, even today, there are no blunt journalists that are ready to interview former President face to face – he has to answer why the funds had been abused by them so deliberately ?
All the trained journalists that woudl not go radically seem to be hanging around with the man even today… what we read is not the ground reality of the stories. Most of them have still been controleld by Rajakshe men.
May be society too is devious to just nodd the head not being self critical.
Meeharak nation will never grasph it.. letting him and his henchmen to fool around even today.
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sama / February 12, 2016
question is how many more days he will stay prevaricating ?
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Chutikella / February 12, 2016
yes, evasive manouer will not work for them on long term:
Even if the people are so stupid and blindfolded
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Balahamy / February 12, 2016
Right these days, we have alarming issues to see it forward, but Journos to add only about a man who and whose kith and kin destroyed the nation to falling the nation to no go level – I really dont know why the lanken journos behave so.
They are the third force of the country- if media men and women would not report the grievances of the people who arereally in need or the issues that really need the focus, nothing will go to succeed.
The jokers that made srilankens hard up, we dont need to talk anymore:
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bo / February 13, 2016
Yeah the problem now is this: Mr Sirisena and especially Ranil W are trying to figure out how to rescue this young criminal element, as his arrest must have compromised the deal that RW had done with Rajapakshas at the dawn of 9th Jan 15.
Our system of feudalism, you scratch my back, I will scratch yours phenomenon, prevalent in political circles, is the curse of Sri Lanka. For the people engrossed in this kind of mega-deals, it does not matter who or which party comes to power; they look after each other.
Mark my words; once the hub hub has died down, this guy will come out and fly to Dubhai to enjoy his wealth there, along with the Lambroghinis that they have stashed away there, the week before the Presidential Election.
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mj / February 14, 2016
Any body abuse Load Buddha’s name, will end up like JARAPAKSHAS family. .
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 12, 2016
Who is this Ashu..
Newest addition to the Yahapalana Ministry, the Tiger Slaying Field Marshall openly admitted that he took LKR 85 Mil from his office to the Bank ( HSBC ? ) to deposit. .
And he has a receipt from the Courier as well
Did the Army Commander earn more than the Commander in Chief?
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nishan / February 12, 2016
Seems at least to be a guy good witgh numbers even if he isnt a space engineer like chichi or dosnt have a phd ln law like namal:
Chandrajith Ashuboda Marasinghe (goes by Ashu Marasinghe) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management and Information Systems Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan and visiting Professor at International University of Japan. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka,
M.Sc. in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Aizu, Japan and Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Aizu in 1997, 2001, and 2004 respectively. Prof. Ashu was educated at Ananda College, Colombo. Today Ananda College stands to be one of the greatest Buddhist high schools in Asia. He has worked in the University of Aizu, Japan, Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC), Tokyo, Japan, and Institute of Computer Technology (now School of Computing ), University of Colombo Sri Lanka. Prof Ashu`s research interests are: Public Health Informatics, Artificial Life and Intelligence
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Rohan / February 12, 2016
Thanks Nishan. But, do you think this impressive profile would should KASmalam? No way…!!
//Prof Ashu`s research interests are: …, Artificial Life and Intelligence //
Seems, both KASmalam and his God Father (aka Maharaja) use his service!
/
K.A Sumanasekera / February 13, 2016
So Artificial Intelligence must be his forte..Thanks Nishan..Or is it Nissan..
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2016
KASmaalam K.A Sumanasekera
“So Artificial Intelligence must be his forte..Thanks Nishan..Or is it Nissan..”
I doubt Artificial Intelligence will work for you.
Please try bio brick building and gene editing.
Here is another alternative I read in New Scientist:
Head transplant carried out on monkey, claims maverick surgeon -.
New Scientist
19 January 2016
According to Canavero the surgeon this surgery is going to be extended to Human as well. The surgical protocol would be ready within two years.
Probably the surgery will be carried out in China.
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 13, 2016
Dear Native,
As an ” A List ” yahapalana sucker you will believe whatever , Btalanada and Bodhi Sira say..
Not forgetting Galleon, Singaporean and Rajitha Seneviratnam and even the new addition Ashu the MP…
Wonder which electorate the last dude is from?…
/
Native Vedda / February 13, 2016
KASmaalan K.A Sumanasekera
Chandrajith Ashuboda Marasinghe looks like your Tamil Nadu brethren. He can blend in well among them.
” As an ” A List ” yahapalana sucker you will believe whatever , Btalanada and Bodhi Sira say.. Not forgetting Galleon, Singaporean and Rajitha Seneviratnam and even the new addition Ashu the MP… Wonder which electorate the last dude is from?…”
What has your rant got to do with Artificial Intelligence (AI), bio brick building blocks, gene editing and Head transplant.
Probably you need all of them.
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 13, 2016
Dear Native,
I have no issues with the new addition to your Yahapalana team.
The Dosh in Yahapalanaya must be must be better than teaching Artificial intelligence to Japs.
But I wonder why the Japs need this dude, when Mr Pencil Sharp invented even the LED screen for Apple I Phone.
Japs also make bloody fantastic single Malts too.
Yamazaki 12 Year Old is so competitively priced, even I can afford it for a special occasion like the GF’s Birthday.
And I love Sashimi with our Southern Blue Fin tuna freshly caught by my Dalit fisher folk in Galle..
If you are interested in Medical Research, read about our Galle Boy who has given extended lives to Millions in the West, with the artery Stent and the catheter to insert it.
Wonder why that Professor waste time when there are so many of them in Yahapalanaya even without transplants.
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Leel / February 13, 2016
It is not suitable for K.A.Summa. Donkey head is the most suitable.
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sethu / February 12, 2016
So what !
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Unmask The Fraud / February 12, 2016
Stick to the point, apologist!
This is NOT about anyone other than the Rajapakses, so if you have a relevant response go ahead, but stop trying to cloud the issue in your usual ‘grovelling to the Rajapakses’ ‘sicko-fancy’!!
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kp / February 12, 2016
-Fonseka has 85 million from some unknown source after working in the Army for several decades and having quite well-off children.
-Ergo, it is ok for Mahinda to steal 340million just to set up a TV station.
^patriot logic. And these are the people we want to build the ‘miracle of asia’ with.
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sarojini / February 12, 2016
Surprise surprise ,, M R has only earned 13million for the ten years as. President. Where on earth do they find these fact from? TODAY YOshithas. Lawyer condemned. Sagala. Ratnayake for misleading the people with false statistics. the lawyer claimed that. CSN never had 2.3 mi
Lion from any where. talk is cheap like our cheap politicians_
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Native Vedda / February 12, 2016
KASmaalam K.A Sumanasekera
Why are these people wearing western clothes.
They are supposed to be model cultural carriers of this country.
Where is her Mundum Neriyathum and his mundu and melmundu?
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Sylvia Haik / February 12, 2016
Oh Sumaney, Sumaney, forever the bootlicker. The question that is being poised is for the Rajapakses not the Commander. If you add up all their funded projects, we should ask how they accumulated double that amount with an income of Rs.20 million. If India could jail Jayalalitha why can’t we jail the Rajapakse family on the same counts.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / February 12, 2016
HLDm KAS Sumanawathi [ jarapassa’s rooster].
do you think that all alike so called Jarapassa bogus patriotic synthetic low-yers.
cheated on law exam by father and son,[if not true, if it is said in the media, why not take legal actions]
please return the Seenigama devala till collection,
jarapassa’s seenigama god could not save his day to day collection. then how can he save others??????.
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matarage / February 12, 2016
under yahapalanayaa, pl investigate everybody, without selectively targeting Mahinda and his Rajapaka family.
Start from all the previous presidents and present President. Maitreepala. Ask how present president man from peasantry background,how his family members became so rich. all are multi millionaires.
Investigate how Navin dissnayake (Gamini’s son) man from remote kotmale immediately after starting Kotmale Project came to own a mansion next to British council,which is now worth more than a billion.
investigate all public servants who get only about 50,000- 100,000.00 month live a life of luxury.
law should not be selective ,has to be fair and has to be applied without discrimination.
if you go by this rule ,except, Present PM Ranil, May be GL peiris, Karir Hassim and few others will be left out.Most other used or abused the system to earn some extra money, I do not say they robbed. When you are in a influence positions businessmen look after them .I am sure Ravi a man from ordinary background now own a mansion down parliament road. I am sure he can not account for his accents.
95% of parliamentarians may not be able to show as to how they earn money.
99% senior public servants might give it difficult to explain how they acquired money.
this is the reality in sri lanka.
so just targeting mahinda’s family for political reasons is not acceptable.this i not yahapalanaya.
FICD was set up with a purpose of selectively, harassing political opponents.
ask each and everybody and Staring from former minister Maithreepala, every parliamentarian to explain and account for their assets and money.
I am only sure only about Ranil who is the only man in my assessment not up to financial “corruption(used his position to earn money , of course he did not have to ), and others at least 50%, might find it difficult to account for their assets and if the rule applied to Mahinda’s son is applied ,vast majority of them might have to be taken into custody and many of certianly will be guys of SLFP who joined Maithreepala. Especially,” Dat dostara” and SB and Siripala might find it difficult to account as to how they acquire their assets.
So without only Targeting Mahinda Rajapake and his family ,used it it everybody.
If that procedure to be used by FICD ,I will not be surprised that ,if you find parliament cannot have sessions due to lack of quorum. and most public instutions might come to standstill becuase they either have to attend FICD or will be in remand custody.
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Shrikharan / February 12, 2016
matarage
I 100% agree with you. We all know Rajapakse and his family plundered the country, but this is the state with most parliamentarians and they all should investigated. May be someone should lodge a complaint with the FICD and that is the reason for not proceeding with these cases.
However there is no point Rajapakjse and family now crying in the court premises and elsewhere they have been taken political revenge, and they should first answer to the same public what they did when they were in power to Sarath Fonseka and Shirani Bandaranayake and many others and their explanation should define how their case differs from what they did when in power to these people.
In my opinion Rajapakse did resort political revenge to many people and so there is nothing wrong taking political revenge to him (if it is so, but I do not think so. What goes round come around and he should realize this fact of life.
Yoshitha committed all these offences and other offences by the rest of the family because they miscalculated and thought they will ever be in power and could destroy all evidences. But man proposes and God disposes, and this is how all crooks believed when they committed crimes but sadly there will be some smoke which could trace them to the crooks.
Political revenge is a convenient excuse by politicians to whip up public support to save them from their crimes. This privilege is not available to the ordinary civilians and have to face the full force of the law and therefore is a deterrent.
Rajapakse family plundered public wealth and if proven should face the full punishment of the law, and this is the way to send proper signals to other politicians and safeguard the country becoming bankrupt.
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King Wala Gemba / February 12, 2016
Matarage
The present govt. should investigate only the previous govt. The previous govt. should have investigated the one before that and so on. Rajapakshe govt. should have investigated Chandrika govt. but he said he had all the files but he did not take any action because he himself was corrupt to the core.
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Justice & Fairplay / February 12, 2016
Dear Matarage,
You may want to understand why the previous regime was changed. It was changed by the MAJORITY in this country, demanding among other things that investigations be made into the corruption scandals of the previous regime.
The Rajapakse watch had 10 years to investigate any other regime before that, but they didn’t. Meaning, there was nothing to investigate, or, that they didnt care how much someone else before them robbed. That in itself is an indication what they thought of the misuse of public funds. The FCID need not worry of any such previous misdeeds, unless there is a definite complaint by the public with regard to happenings before MR’s time.
I believe the FCID investigates only written / registered public complaints against malpractices. The fact that these are focused on the last government’s watch is therefore inevitable. Investigating into corruption was an election pledge given. It is not a whimsically oriented move to target anyone in particular. If they appear targeting a set of persons in one family, that only reflects the extent to which that family was involved in the decision making of this country and the control of its economy. The last President’s immediate family and his siblings controlled a resounding share of the economy of the country, and these investigations are based on economic mismanagement (to put it mildly) among other things, which the PUBLIC pressed and demanded from the Sirisena government to investigate. In fact if you remember in the lead up to the last elections, there was widespread dissatisfaction that the Yahapalana government was doing nothing about all what they accused the previous government of having done!
That is the logic behind it. It requires people of sound judgment and lack of bias to understand it.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / February 13, 2016
HaHahaHaHahaha…..
You are right mate,
I can still see Dr Mervyn walking up the stairs to the F*******CID ,soon after Batalanada Ranil cut the Ribbon and served Kiribath and Kolikuttu to the Yahapalalana suckers.
Dr Mervyn had a Manila folder bulging with A4 size under his arm pit with complaints about all who were on the take in the previous Regime,.plus even the names of the people who organized the Big hits , including even the names of the White Van drivers.
That folder, I will assure you will keep the Batalanada ‘s F********CID in business for the full 5 years of Yahapalanaya plus more.
Wonder whether those 5000 dedicated Yahapalana CSI get overtime ?..
That will be a another project for your new UNP Artificial Intelligence expert to work out how much they will collect under Yahapalanaya?.
/
Native Vedda / February 13, 2016
KASmaalam K.A Sumanasekera
Is Dr Mervyn Silva PhD MR’s step brother?
/
bo / February 12, 2016
I agree. Everyone should be investigated including those hanging on to YHP govt
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Burt / February 12, 2016
May be Gota assigned Duminda to manage the portfolio, the investments invested in paid in 000′ of fold.
This could be one reason the Rajapaksa’s don’t want to share the secrets. Even M3 might try to use the same investments.
/
Lanka Watch / February 12, 2016
This is a weak case for the Govt. as anybody can get a loan/s from
the bank/s to start a business and release of funds depends on the
credibility of the client.
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Burt / February 12, 2016
Getting a loan, having a silent partner or any other form of funding is fine as long as there is a paper trail. The problem here is there isn’t any.
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sarojini / February 12, 2016
Burt how do you know that there is no paper trail. Please let me know the name of the bank that lends money without the necessary paper work. l will run there myself!!!
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thrishu / February 12, 2016
Yeah run there fast…….. And lose what you invest without any paper trail…….hahahah
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Native Vedda / February 12, 2016
thrishu
“hahahah”
Please share the joke with all of us. We love jokes. Is it you that is the joke?
/
Punchinilame / February 12, 2016
“Please let me know the name of the bank that lends……. “
An extract from my cut & paste file shows: FCID matters: Case No. 24: Lankaputra Development Bank re release of Rs. 2000 million as loans to 14 parties. CID Report now in the hands of the AG. No. 25. Ethanol Imports, involving a former Minister and 2 current Deputy Ministers, – FCID investigations on-going. No. 26. Paddy Marketing Board involved in the sale of 234000 tons
Paddy to 3 selected mill owners & loss thereof to be reported to FCID.
Sorry, rules have changed at Lankaputra Development Bank and you are too late!
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Burt / February 12, 2016
“Burt how do you know that there is no paper trail.”
If there was paper trail and if it was clean there wont be a case or grounds for arrest. If the paper trail was not clean and had indications of fraud then charges would have been filed by now.
“Please let me know the name of the bank that lends money without the necessary paper work.”
Where is the indication that any bank local or foreign lent this money?
” l will run there myself!!! “
If your related to the Rajapaksa’s you could have done it during the previous govt now you have missed that chance.
/
Rohan / February 12, 2016
This is gross earning. These guys should have had to eat, buy cars, pump petrol, go to parties, spend on their family and friends, even buy expensive clothes. If you look at the clothing, watches, hand bags and footwear of Shiranthi, I don’t think Mahinda would had that much left!
By the way, when the elections happen, Sri Lankan politicians are expected to submit their wealth details, right? Does anyone have access to any of those??
/
Vibhushana / February 12, 2016
Well, legally the entity is not in Rajapaske name. Although Namal corresponds and gives directions to the company as “the chairman”. Will that be enough to prove an association?
The directors should not be kept in the same cell where they can collude and give answers. They should be kept separate and interrogated individually.
One of the directors need to be given clemency in exchange for a testimony to what actually transpired.
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Rohan / February 12, 2016
//One of the directors need to be given clemency in exchange for a testimony to what actually transpired. //
Yeah…. Now, we call the next witness, Your Honour…
Yasara Abeynayeka
/
Diogenes / February 12, 2016
What if they earned this money by selling PATRIOTISM to two legged Lion Brand buffaloes of this Land of the Buddha?
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Pucci / February 12, 2016
Kabir, Rauff, Malik S are the most corrupt ministers in the current government.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 12, 2016
They are experts at Alchemy and have transformed charcoal to gold! It is an achievement that deserves the 2016 Nobel prize in Chemistry. Sweden,please note. Further, ferret out the secret and make it a State Secret to be deployed only by the Central Bank and the National Treasury. Let’s make charcoal making our only industry ! We will become the leading first world nation,super rich and a superpower in no time!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
/
Shihan / February 12, 2016
This is funny, these so called lawyers thinks that they can still hoodwink the people by telling some kinder garden stories. if this is true that rajapaksa’s earned only 20M up to, how come these so called patriotic sons enjoy rides in super luxury cars? where did they get the money to buy the lotus, ferrari, Maclerans? even to lend these cars it would cost more than what they have earned. there is a saying “Every dog has its day” its just not the Rajapaksas’
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Spark / February 12, 2016
Check (a) ransacked money belonging to the LTTE (b) spoils from robbing northern Tamils (c) Central Finance & Investments Limited (CIFL) fixed deposits internal arrangement with Deepthi Perera (d) Chinese underground money (e) white van kidnappings and ransoms from businessmen.
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Rohan / February 12, 2016
Intimidated businessmen and land owners to buy 55 million dollar assets to 5 million.
Yeah, I know, we need to check whether that 5 million was paid at all!!!
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Justice & Fairplay / February 12, 2016
Pucci, if you are a right thinking person you should put down your specific allegations on paper and send it to the FCID for investigation and avoid generalising.
In that way you’d do everyone a favour, including the ministers you now name, so that they have a chance to clear their name and not be targets for sheer innuendo.
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thrishu / February 12, 2016
If these people had been earning os much money, why have not they been declared to the Revenue and Tax departments. What are those officials doing in the face of these revelations, sitting on their asses, farting? Go chase the defaulters and take them to court for evading paying taxes.
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Peter Fernando / February 12, 2016
You are not right here, those idiots are sitting INSTEAD on their heads…. they dont have any kind of average mind set. On the west, we are always feeling like we are obliged to do our duties no matter any panel leader or anyothers are there to control. In srilnaka, immediately putting my feet there, first authorities I come across are the immigration counter clerks.. looking at the manner they work, I get upset. That is the nature in srilanka. These men are not well trained for their duties. Lanken govt should invest a lot in such areas – since tourists will not have a good impression if they would not feel very welcome. If the state focuses on tourism as one of their key areas – many in airport should be subjected to on going training sessions. We have enough good educated young chaps leaving urban school almost every year. Most of them would be the most match for efficent jobs in airport, harbour and other areas where tourists often get on.
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sarojini / February 14, 2016
Has anyone given a thought to the fact that if there is no credible evdence it would be impossible to press charges. ???
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Samuel Jayaweera / February 12, 2016
Youj are dead right.
But we all know that people down there dont fulfil their duties as it is the case for any office personnel in Germany or Uk – I really dont think lanken authorities do their job 20% compared to their counterparts in the Europe. This I realize each time travelling to the country. They talk big but do not the least… it is a general problem down there. Not only in tax dept but also in Universities – that you should better be aware having worked for lankens prior to your current position.
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mewan / February 12, 2016
It is amusing to read many people here say “…we all know” when referring to how Rajapaksa family amassed wealth by plundering public resources. Unfortunately, what we all know does not stand in any court until it is proven. He may have very well done it. But as of yet this is yet to be proven. If I am not mistaken the charges against CNS and its directors are not on abusing state resources but using laundered money for investment. This money has come from overseas and there is question about legality of this money.
This naturally lends to the question how serious are we about money laundering? FM has already said that a Belgian investor is willing to park US$1bn in Sri Lanka to prop up our foreign reserves and there are many others who are willing to follow suit. Not this is a classic cases of money laundering and the key is ‘parking’ which means that the person can take the money out anytime. It is not a real investment, just looking for a place to hide money, until they find a better more profitable location.
Now why would a Belgian citizen (if he is in fact a Belgian) want to take this much money out of the country for no apparent productive reason? Many Sri Lankans many not be aware that there is an agreement between 94 countries in the world to exchange financial dealings (especially accounts) of their citizens in other countries. This is called Common Reporting Standard. For example, if Sri Lanka is participating in this program, then accounts of all Sri Lankan citizens who hold accounts in any of the 94 would have been passed on to the SL government and Sri Lanka would have to do the same about any foreign citizen having accounts in SL. Readers must have already guessed why this person (and many others according to our FM) is suddenly interested in ‘helping out’ SL. Once the money is in SL it is out of sight of the individual’s resident country’s tax authorities and other financial investigation. Now we are really serious about money laundering, and interested in knowing where SL citizens have stashed money, and keeping SL clean, we could have participated in this program. As you can see from the list (http://www.oecd.org/tax/automatic-exchange/common-reporting-standard/) many developing countries are, including India are participating, but not Sri Lanka. Also, interestingly Belgium’s intended first information exchange is by Sept 2017.
Now we come to the issue of FDIC. If we are seriously committed to investigating fraud inside the country a proper legal authority should be set up that answers to the AG and not the prime minister. PM has no right to set up an investigative entity like this outside the judiciary. It should be clearly documented and legalised entity that is completely under the proper government department such as the ministry of justice. With the type of investigation that has been carried out so far, it is clear that his is a political revenge mechanism and nothing to do with carrying out the law in the country. If that was then as matarage said here it is difficult to explain how many individuals that have assets and lifestyles clearly over and above their incomes have not been investigated so far? Investigate Rajapaksa’s by all means, but if you want to instil some credibility to the whole process, then set up a proper mechanism with a well-defined legal framework, and let the public know what it is. If it is not done so, then as some have said here, what goes around comes around. This government won’t last for ever as well. Just imagine what will happen to those who do these things now, when they are no longer in power? Because we have no strong legal base (or it is there but not enacted) the new government will set up something similar and arrest all in the present administration – what prevents Ranil being arrested for being a homosexual?
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Villageman / February 12, 2016
Rajapaksa family visit courts and jails in very expensive bmws and benz. They should explain how they got those cars. Yositha should not be released until Shirani come to the court in a threeweeler.
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Seelawathie / February 12, 2016
This is a very good question.
Actually, telling that he is underthreat – he has been having over 100 people to protect him.
These family has become a problem to tax payers to this day.
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bganendra / February 12, 2016
The balance money was robbed from the people or from the sale of gold from the northern province
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eusense / February 12, 2016
First, the internal revenue department should audit every one who is suspected of making exorbitant amounts of money using tips from anominous citizens. Not filing taxes, under reporting earnings and under paying taxes are all criminal and warrent prison sentences. Once they are in prison other investigations should look for other punishable economic crimes.
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Seelawathie / February 12, 2016
Can you please help in that regard, you always boast to have become a graduate from Pera ?
Rajapakshes are like crabs in hot waters today. They dont see any wayouts but opening office, that will for sure backfire as everyone of us is clear.
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eusense / February 13, 2016
Seela
Looking for their hidden money with his crooked supporters around is like looking for a needle in a hey stack. The only way to get him and his crooks is through evading income taxes and giving the maximum penelty. Him and all his crooks will have to show their income for buying all those luxury cars and why they did not report those millions as income and not pay taxes.
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Seelawathie / February 12, 2016
Wait and see, if Rajano will be caught – all other so called joint opposition men and women will have to follow him. There will be no other choice those men for sure.
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srinath.gunaratne / February 12, 2016
Seelawathi, you are day dreaming!
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Backlash / February 12, 2016
If the Income Tax Dept is allowed to function – clean, without fear or favour – as it did before the 1980s large-scale bribery and corruption will come down drastically. Problem is almost all the leading political actors, from all sides, have skeletons in their cupboards.
The other necessary feature is all buying/purchases of the State sector should be done transparently, with as little influence or interference – from the line Minister or his senior officials. Earlier most food imports came from the Food Dept or the CWE, CPC brought its oil/gas transparently from leading global suppliers,
Drugs/Medicine was under the Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Fertilizer from the Fertilizer Corpn. But the venal Rajapapakses, avaraciously, took over everything for them, the family and their friends. If most of the rackets under them are inquired into and the culprits punished, this may be a deterent in the future.
The country must come out with a new and clean system of State purchases – away from the contamination of crooked politicians.
Backlash
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justice / February 12, 2016
Ukrinmash the arms dealer company in Ukraine supplied four MIGs whose lifespan had expired, to Sri Lanka at exorbitant cost.
This same company funded the cost of Yoshitha’s training in UK.
It is an offence for a oublic servant to obtain monetary benefits from any source in or out of Sri Lanka.
The navy chief ignored this.
Any other navy member would have faced dismissal.
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Douglas / February 12, 2016
MR said: “I will slit my throat if anyone can prove that I have amassed wealth by illegal means”. Here is a golden opportunity for those making accusations through the media. Instead of conducting “Talk Shows”, get cracking on the subject and prove it and we will see the end of this tyrant who makes every attempt to capture power.
In another news, construction and renovation are going on at Welikada prison to “accommodate” elite class of suspects who would be brought there shortly. Why they cannot be made to feel the normal facilities that other inmates are provided? What is “Special” about those “Elite Class”?
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harry hatton / February 13, 2016
If you earned only Rs 10 how do you have assets worth Rs 100?
That is a question you can ask all our politicians,businessmen, professionals, tax payers and even government servants !
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Pucci / February 13, 2016
Justice & FairPlay,
I m not making innuendos, as you so think.
Everyone in the Yahapalana government to s we’ll aware f it.
You probably have your ears stuck in the mud
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MOHAMED MARZOOK / February 13, 2016
D. B. S. Jeyarajah writing in his columns on “Revisiting the Forcible Arrest of Sarath Fonseka by the Army on Feb 8th 2010” says thus –.
‘A military police officer then rapidly read out from his orders outlining the reasons for taking Sarath Fonseka into custody.The charges under which Fonseka was to be interrogated included-
a) Politicking whilst in uniform.
b) Conspiring against the Commander-in-Chief whilst in Service.
c) Harboring more than 1,500 deserters whilst on service.
d) Corrupt practices relating to military procurements.’
‘The soldiers got hold of their former commander by his hands and legs and dragged him along the floor.Sarath Fonseka kept on shouting and struggling as he was forcibly dragged down the steps from the first floor. Some of the soldiers dragging the General were seen hitting their former commander in a bid to restrain him.One soldier was seen delivering a powerful punch to the back of Sarath Fonseka’s head.’
‘When the soldiers assaulted him the General retorted by resorting to colourful expressions and choice epithets in both the Sinhala and English languages.The 59 year old General who had survived an LTTE suicide bomb attempt on his life in April 2006 was manhandled very roughly by the soldiers who dragged him down the stairs by pulling his hands.At one point the struggling Fonseka’s flailing legs smashed into a window cracking the glass panes. After reaching ground level the General was handcuffed and then bodily carried towards a vehicle.’
Now Mahinda and Shiranthi are reported to be shedding tears when seeing their son Yositha being taken in the Prison Van and remanded, brothers Namal and Rohitha talks of political vendetta and the lion coming back to shred the offenders.
Comparing the manner in which Gen. Fonseka was treated in relation to the charges levelled on him and the numberous charges levelled on the MR family one should wonder as to how this family should be treated. The MR family should thank providence for the leniency shown to them as against the crudeness they showed to Gen. Fonseka.
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Saman / February 14, 2016
Can your web site estimate the values of innocent lives that Mahinda , Gota lead Government forces saved by finishing a 30 x year long bloody war?
Please Stop mud slinging to Rajapaksha family.
We know clearly who are our real time heroes ..
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sarojini / February 14, 2016
Well said. Saman
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Native Vedda / February 14, 2016
Saman
“We know clearly who are our real time heroes ..”
You mean VP for winning the war for MR???
Or Hindians who supported the war effort of VP against LTTE and the Tamils.
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Sylvia Haik / February 15, 2016
The world combating Money Laundering has introduced a new search function at international customs for travellers. In UK it is as little as £1000, if being carried has to be explained how and where they got it from and if legitimate. In respect of the Rajapakses we are talking about absolute fortunes and nobody has any idea where they got them from except that is has to be illegally. There is Karma still awaiting them for stealing the Tsunami Fund money. There’s also Rs.Billions from commissions and kickbacks from all the useless projects the taxpayers and Chinese loans had paid for and there’s more.
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Don / February 18, 2016
This Money is Shiranthi’s Dowry to Mahinda,gave to Yoo7 to start CSN??
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