A senior member of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance says that it is former president and current parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa who is responsible for non-payment of dues to a state owned TV channel for broadcasting advertisements for his 2015 presidential campaign.
Rajapaksa who was questioned over the matter by a presidential commission of inquiry recently had said that the responsibility for the payments was vested with the UPFA as he was the party’s nominee for the polls.
According to the UPFA senior a candidate prior to handing over nominations has to appoint an election agent and this agent will be responsible for the campaign issues of the candidate including relevant payments.
In the event that no such appointment being made such candidate shall be deemed to have appointed himself as his election agent.
The UPFA bigwig said that as Rajapaksa had not appointed an agent it is he who should bear responsibility for the matter.
Rajapaksa was questioned recently by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe corruption and abuse of power during the previous regime.
A special team of Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIPAC) visited Rajapaksa’s Mirihana residence to record a statement.
The Commission summoned Rajapaksa to record a statement on a petition lodged about the losses incurred by the State during the last presidential election.
The special team questioned the former president over non-payment of dues to a state-owned TV channel for broadcasting advertisements for his 2015 presidential campaign.
An audit inquiry has found that the state television Independent Television Network has incurred losses over Rs. 101 million as Rajapaksa has failed to pay the dues to the state TV for advertising his election campaign.
Same audit has found that the ITN had agreed to broadcast Rs. 44.7 million of advertisements for current president Maithripala Sirisena but only aired Rs. 2.6 million worth advertisements despite the agreement.
Mentioned below is a clause in the Presidential election act on the above issue;
Presidential Elections Act (No. 15 of 1981) – Sect 31
Appointment of election Agent
(1) On or before the day of nomination a person shall be appointed in writing by or on behalf of each candidate as his agent for such election and such person is in this Act referred to as the election agent. In the event of no such appointment being made by or on behalf of such candidate on or before that day, such candidate shall be deemed to have appointed himself as his election agent.
(2) A candidate may appoint himself as his election agent, and thereupon shall, so far as circumstances admit, be subject to the provisions of this Act, both as a candidate and as an election agent, and any reference in this Act to an election agent shall be construed to refer to the candidate acting in his capacity as election agent.
Related posts;
UPFA Should Pay My Rs.100 Million Advertising Bill: Mahinda Rajapaksa
Instead Of Summoning Rajapaksa Before PRECIFAC, Commission Members Visited His Residence
Amarasiri / September 29, 2015
RE: MR Personally Responsible For Rs.100 Million Advertising Bill According To Presidential Elections Act
“A senior member of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance says that it is former president and current parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa who is responsible for non-payment of dues to a state owned TV channel for broadcasting advertisements for his 2015 presidential campaign”
“The UPFA bigwig said that as Rajapaksa had not appointed an agent it is he who should bear responsibility for the matter.”
The UPFA bigwigs are Stupid wigs. In the absence of an Agent Mahinda Rajapaksa was the agent and nobody in UPFA protested then.
“The special team questioned the former president over non-payment of dues to a state-owned TV channel for broadcasting advertisements for his 2015 presidential campaign”
In the end it is the UPFA, that will have to pay for it. Mahinda Rajapaksa was just the nominee. If Mahinda Rajapaksa did not appoint anybody, that was probably because he was not able to find a suitable candidate as almost all of them were Modayas, Mootals and Fools.
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Vanguard / September 29, 2015
That’s Rs 18.52 per voter for the 5.4 million who voted for him.
I am sure supporters will be willing to contribute this amount.
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Point of View / September 29, 2015
To recover this and everything he robbed, send the list around. Let’s start with the following for their contribution ;
Dhammika Perera
Sumal Perera
Dilith Jayaweera
Preethi Jayawardena (House of Fashion)
Johnston Fernando
Wimal Weerawansa
Dayan Jayathillake
Rocket Rohitha’s intended Father-in-law who acts so very important seated at Cinnamon Grand lobby
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Vanguard / September 30, 2015
Actually I would think it depends on who requested the advertising – was it on an UPFA letterhead, were correct tender procedures followed etc.
I am not familiar with the names on the ‘Point of View’ list, however Dayan J is has a wealth of experience.
I think it is also self-incrimination to pay the 100 million since this would lead people to suspect the accusations of corruption are true. Better to plead this line.
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Burt / September 30, 2015
I think this will ultimately come to the party constitution and the rules governing expenditure.
For this amount of money common sense would dictate that more than one office bearer should have signed off. If that was not done and there is nothing mentioned in the party guidelines as to expenditure then MR should be responsible.
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Jango / September 29, 2015
Vanguard – This should be peanuts for the Rajapakse clan after the mega ripoffs from the country’s coffers, commissions and other ‘deals’, so no need for contributions from his supporters.
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priyangika / September 29, 2015
If MR had won voters may have even paid 18.52 billions
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Polished / September 30, 2015
See how many voters he has now, they all know about Ali Baba, make him pay or put him in Jail
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sensible Citizen / September 29, 2015
Dear Colombo Telegraph, As a reader I like to stay current. It is time for CT to collect a new stock of photos of Mahinda. The live photos I have seen of Mahinda lately is far different. MR may have had access to lot of public money when he was President. I am not sure if it is the make up or the make look good consultants. Lets show the difference to the world
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Sylvia Haik / September 29, 2015
I am beginning to notice that Mahinda Rajapakse is smiling less and less in the photographs these days. Perhaps the reality of his blatant corruption is settling in as questions are being asked of him to explain the absolute fortune he has accumulated from his meagre Presidential salary.
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samuel / September 29, 2015
it is just now he has to start laughing from his backside. Meaning much is not scene right ? His resistence to anything is similar to bacteria spores that would never be destroyed at 100 degrees. He could pay a smile from both sidesat the time he airlifted to Lanza s house on the very day lanza the drug kin pin was about to arrested. No matter truth and fairness lie somewhere else, man should pay his smile. That is the Rajpakshe genetics. Mati buru son is the same though his rapes were made burried repeatedly -but no remorses were seen. Ballige puthas of this kind can only be in developing countries of our kind. I thought it was only Pakistan you may find the nature, but now a days, I really dont respect and cant respect anyone back in the home country. I ask why what made them that uncivilized… it was the administration that allowed them to grow drastically. Aiyyoooooooooooooo apita giya kala
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Douglas / September 29, 2015
Vanguard: Good proposal. Mr. Gammanpila knows all the “Mechanisms” relating to collection of contributions for an election campaign and he has proved it by collecting Rs.100.00 from each who supported him. Now he is not alone. Wimal, Vasu, Dinnesh can help in the matter. As suggested, I appeal to these FOUR to start the collection process and settle this “DEBT” as soon as possible.
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Yakadayaka / September 29, 2015
Can we please ditch this side show and tell after the billions he has robbed from us all?
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BBS Rep / September 30, 2015
Come on MR.
100 million rupees for you is peanuts. For a man who stole billions of dollars through corruption and not to mention the forcibly appropriated billions of dollars worth of LTTE gold, 100 million rupees is nothing. Pay up and be done with it.
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A Sri Lankan / September 30, 2015
Bloody [Edited out] stole more than 2 billion US$. Time to pay up a portion of that until such time other money is traced. SOB from Hambantota, disgusting pig stole so much from the poor tax payers of this country. [Edited out]
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Kumari / September 30, 2015
Why we have this thug out? Dont we have any way to put him in jail?
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Adrian / October 1, 2015
Pay up sucker
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DPJ / October 2, 2015
Don’t you remember friends that Mahinda did not spare any place where there was money. He started from Tsunami with 83 million. The Mig deal with the association of Gota. Chamal’s fertilizer deal in early 2006. Sri Lanka Cricket is still in debt, when it had more than Rs.6 billion to its credit. Appointing his cronies like D.S De Silva, Nishantha Ranatunga, Dharmadasa bros SLC lost Rs.6 billion in no time. He got 30 billion from the drug importers. Another sizable sum from Ceylon Tobacco. He did not spare the EPF, ETF, NSB, BC & PB. He floated Mihin Air for the single purpose of stealing. Sri Lankan Airlines which was doing well with Emirates was taken over for nothing but stealing. The Ceylinco Group collapsed after giving Rs. 100 million to Mahinda. How can his boys otherwise wear shirts worth Rs. 100,000.each. The cost of all the other samashas that he conducted with state funds should be reimbursed or put the fellow behind bars if he refuses to pay.
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Plato. / October 3, 2015
DPJ
But not a cat knows where MaRa has hidden this colossal loot.
I remember it was quantified as 18 Billion US Dollars,but nothing heard after that!
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