Amidst mounting criticism against the government’s failure to take action against corrupt politicians and government officials, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered his office to immediately provide him with a list of names containing government officials who have been involved in various frauds committed during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Sources said that Wickremesinghe has requested for a list of officials who possess a checkered career but are continuing to work in ministries, boards, departments and other government owned organisations.
“The Prime Minister has requested for a list of the officials who have been accused of fraud, as well as who have been involved in misusing public funds and other resources during the previous government,” they said.
A special team has been tasked to obtain the names of the corrupt officials, accused of various frauds.
The government came under heavy criticism recently when it allowed former Director General of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Anusha Palpita to take over as an Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Palpita is embroiled in corruption charges, and is currently out on bail over the misuse of funds at the TRC amounting to Rs. 620 million which was allegedly used in Rajapaksa’s presidential election campaign.
Subsequent to his appointment to the Ministry of Home Affairs, he was suspended by the Public Service Commission.
Yapa / June 4, 2016
Start with those in the present Cabinet whom you know well, this Black Book exercise is an eye wash.The civil organizations/Good governance activists are fed up on this issue.
/
Amarasiri / June 4, 2016
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
RE: Ranil Wants A Copy Of The Black Book
After you get the book, do not sit on it. Identify the culprits, and fire them all, on a Saturday Night.
Then we can call it the Sri Lankan version of the Saturday Night Massacre. You will be famous and well remembered.
Just Do it!
Saturday Night Massacre
The Saturday Night Massacre was the term used by political commentators to refer to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s dismissal of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox, and the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus on October 20, 1973, during the Watergate scandal.[
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Massacre
/
timbuttu / June 5, 2016
“Ranil Wants A Copy Of The Black Book”
He came to power by the hoodwinking former revolutionary egghead.
Now he needs the book to hand over to Bamba Thatti to carry out the revolution he has started.
Unfortunately for his small youth brain the revolution has eaten into him.
the muslims are wagging their tail as it did for his uncle and premadasa.
/
Native Vedda / June 5, 2016
Yapa
He could ask MR for the file.
/
sarrij / June 5, 2016
Ranil is “old school” and an opportunist basically hungry for power and likes to travel abroad.Nothing good for the country will get done;he is all talk and no action.
Unfortunately his partner “in crime” has no real vision for the country; his contribution of helping to get rid of the previous dictatorship was significant and good and that is all.
What the country needs is a new generation of young political leaders.It is time that the present leadership recognise this fact that the country is in a state of inertia and an infusion of young blood is the answer; the alternative could be disasterous.the writing is on the wall.
/
Snowden Edward Asange / June 6, 2016
Hog wash…..why does RW want the SPRATS…who had to follow orders n let tHe SHARKS like MR GR BR NR YR SHIRANTHI R SHASGENDRA R… JOHNSTON ..LEMON WEERAYA.. BANDULA..KEHELIYA..SAJIN VAS ROHITHA ABEY ET ALL to roam free? Mr PM…try sending tge abive named to jail for LONG PERIODS… then incidents like the kosgama fire wouldnt happen…. fingers point towards gotas goons….SF need to be given the powers to bring the country to order……
/
ELDORADO / June 4, 2016
Mr Prime Minister, you mean to say that you never knew the names of all those corrupt elements who have been causing mayhem and maniacal activity in your Government , the Ministries, the Boards and the Departments, ?? What a sad state of affairs. No wonder we poor Citizens who have been waiting for well nigh one and a half years for you to sweep these vermin out of Officialdom have been let down badly….very badly.
You know Mr Prime Minister, you should have asked the Colombo Telegraphics at the beginning of your term of Office , they would have most certainly have obliged,they have a whole dossier of corrupt officials, and by now you would have had a clean slate to operate with and the Country would have been BOOMING !!
Its still not too late. !!
/
Lanka Watch / June 4, 2016
On formation of the new Govt.in January, 2015, the Govt. and PM Ranil
knew who the culprits were and why is he fooling the people now by asking for the list of people involved in corruption, from his office, leave alone the ones who committed political murders and used nepotism to fill all the high positions in the Govt. service and emptied the
treasury. It does not seem to dawn on the Govt. that it was a crime that around 20 to 30 billion dollars of people’s money were spirited away from the country and those who did this crime are safe in this country.
PM should know that people are totally fed up with this delay in pro-
secuting the wrong doers, while the FCID did a good job and is ready with the cases to be produced in the courts, pending approval from the govt. You can fool the people sometimes but not all, all the times and the Govt.does not seem to realise that they are losing their vote bank,
day by day by protecting the culprits from court appearances. Some of them are so confident that they will not be charged,engaged themselves in business, politics or enjoying life overseas Unable understand why PM has requested his office to provide the names while the completed files by FCID is collecting dust in their office. It is on everybody’s lips that Govt.let them down as they voted for this govt. particularly
to eradicate corruption, nepotism and political thuggery. If they want to dig their own graves, the people have other choices as they hold the vote.
/
Zeus / June 4, 2016
Ranil Mahattaya will have to remove most of the Ministers in the Govt if not all. He himself is not blameless. The Batalanda Commission recommended that his civic rights be removed. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. The clowning is getting worse and worse. Instead of doing something for the country these jokers are playing the fool distracting people with bull shit.
/
Abu Mukarram / June 4, 2016
Better late than never
/
nimal fernando / June 4, 2016
Ranil,
If you are serious about fighting corruption and want to make any headway, the first thing you should do is get rid of Wijedasa Rajapakse as the minister of justice. Move him over to some other inconsequential ministry.
You can’t have the biggest crook as the minister of justice; it’s just a sick joke.
If you are lucky you will have just 4 years to leave your mark. Without being a namby-pamby girlie-man, for once in your life have some balls.
Time to show some mettle; be a man.
It’s now or never, buddy.
/
WalaGemba Raja / June 4, 2016
Dear Hon. PM Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe,
If the previous regime owes money to any government ministry, public enterprise or any other institution, then hold those people who were managing these organizations fully accountable to get the money that others owed to them. there is a collection process in most countries imposing penalties, interest, legal cost and administrative fees on the owed money. If not, imprison those in management for their mismanagement, those politicians, their political parties and lackeys who were benefactors for default. Imprison them without bail until every cent is paid-off. If they will not pay within a stipulated deadline, then confiscate their assets and garnish their bank accounts and also impose severe penalties on others who will hold any of their ill gotten assets as accessories to these financial crimes. Is this so difficult for this government to do or are you also a bunch of crooks who are worse than the previous government? The lack of political will by your government for all of these years show that you too are incompetent and dishonest. Any government who is dishonest deserve to be booted from power because you have failed in your fiduciary and judicial responsibility to govern this nation and her people. Since you Sir have also proved that you cannot govern, we the people demand that you go home. “You can fool all the people some of the time. Some of the people all the time. But not all the people all the time” – Abraham Lincoln. Now get out without disgracing Royal College and that institution’s sacred motto “Disce Aut Discade”. We did not send you to parliament to go to the “kadey” (Boutique) to protect these CRIMINALS.
/
citizen silva / June 7, 2016
Mr.Raja I often wonder Hon.P.M. who was nearly hammered by goons of Sajin vass in front of Police when he was Opposition Leader while trying to attend a funeral of a party stalwart in Balapitiya gives MSD (Ministerial security division) protection ex monitoring MP.Perhaps Hon .Ratnayaka Minister of Law & Order who happen to be a good friend mine long time back can explain.Maybe this is Lichhavi Principal or Leech principal.May be Sajin vass may have agreed to give part of his ill gotten wealth for future UNP elections campaign.It is alleged by JVP leader when KP arms procurer of Ltte captured brought back Sri Lanka similar arrangement was agreed between Ex Defense Secretary & KP letting KP to get free from long arm of the law.I think it is same fate as far as MR,GR,BR,NR,YR ,SR & SRW etc.Who knows as saying goes “money Talks”
/
pattapal / June 4, 2016
I hope they start at the Bribery Commission and FCID as the files are still pending, due to lack of staff, and delays in the AGs office to prosecute until they have sufficient evidence to bring to trial. They are part of the 9000 complaints that are being investigated.
I can do this in about three days, if you give me a staff of 5 qualified people to go through the complaints and check if they are still in Govt. Service or in Parliament. Mind you innocent until proven guilty, so it is the list on which complaints have been made only at this stage.
The onus is on the leadership to give these bodies the resources needed to bring these to prosecution and warn others who are deliberately delaying due to numerous reasons including political pressure. It is here that it is blocked. I hope the PM realizes that.
Remember ALL with yahapalanaya you can’t use white van tactics, which the public appear to want, to bring the big crooks to book without delay.
/
Punchinilame / June 4, 2016
If the P.M.s office is so serious about past corruption, I am sure that
they may have overlooked some in this list so reverently maintained by your commentators? Names for the Black Book can be picked from the 23 items below I guess. They can also approach the Forum Against Corruption for a briefing as the topic appears to be new to them !!!!!
a) Computer purchases for Mahindodaya labs. in Rs. 5.87 Bil..
b) Issue of 1000 diplomatic Passports during 9 yrs. of Rule.
c) 3 PSD Officers: Brig. Capt. & Major in Money Laundering during the
past Regime
d) Tourist Board Officials Rs. 5.7 Mil. . transactions
e) SL Insurance re involvement of a Doc. & ex-Minister
f) S.E.Corp Rs.4.7 Mil. transaction
g) Diary Printing by an ex-Minister Rs. 1.4 mil.
h) D.A.Rajapakse Museum construction Rs. 91 Mil.
i) Purchase of Gowers Pvt. Ltd. by a Parliamentarian
j) 40 luxury vehicles rented by S.Eng.Corp.
k) Rs. 3117 Mil paid by a Chinese Engineering Co. into 6 Banks A/cs.
l) Commonwealth Games Trip of 140 persons & exp.of Rs.358 mil.over it.
m) Rs. 12,500 mil. found dumped in Temple Trees duringDec.2014/Jan.2015
n) Prof. S.Wijeyasooriyas allegation re the sale & distribution of 40 Kg. Gold, also Siriliya A/c.
o) Air Force Commanders dealings inthe hire of Helicopters to CrainLtd.
p) J.C.Weliamuna Committee Rpt. on Lanka Airlines still in the hands
of the PM of Sri Lanka.
q) An ex-CJ admitting his lenient or corrupt (?) verdict on “Helping
Hambantota” Case!
r) An MR Co-ordinating Secy. holding multiple jobs arrested with 10
Gold Biscuits,(1106 gm) by FCID
s) “The Anti Corruption Committee Secretariat has referred 182 files received by it on large scale financial frauds and corruption to FCID of which 42 files have been referred to the A. G by the FCID say reports.” LT
t) JVPs petition filed in Supreme Court re 193 charges against K.P. &
his assets disposed during MR Regime
u) Min. Rambukwella`s Rs. 20 Mil. Ex Presidents Fund plus Insurance
obtained over Med. Treatment in 2012.
v) Illegal renting of Fisheries Harbour by then Minister of Fisheries R. Senaratne, under previous Govt.
w) One man Commission Report by ex-S.C Judge Nimal Dissanayake on
Elephant Robbery
/
Lapatiya / June 4, 2016
There are some leaked names in the Black book according to reliable sources.
1. Person who facilitiated Shiranthi Rajapaksha to give a statement to the CID for Siriliya Account at Speakers residence.
2. Person who allowed former Additional Secretory, Damayanthi Jayasuriya to flee the Country.
3. Person/Persons who approved new appointments foe Anusha Palpita/Ranawaka
4. Ministers and Officials who helped Elephant thief to go free even before fulfilling bail conditions.
5. Person/Persons who are protecting Central Bank Governor.
6. Person/persons who are protecting Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Prabath Gammapila, Musammil, Jayantha Samaraweera etc.
List is long and PM should look in his office as well as former crooks in his office.
/
justice / June 4, 2016
The PM appears to have woken up at last to the reality of slow/selective functioning of the quasi-judicial team appointed to uncover corruption and take speedy action against those guilty of same.
The nation is reeling under the financial burden and increased taxation.
The PM must do something soon about the loosing state enterprises left behind by the Rajapakse regime.
Without all these corrective measures, any new constitution would be like “old wine in new bottles”.
/
sr / June 4, 2016
Hon. PM is asking for trouble.
He’d better think about maintaining stability.
How to blacklist corrupt officials of previous regime still in positions when ministers, deputies and MPs of the previous regime are still in positions; working with him in good governance.
/
Plato. / June 4, 2016
The Yahapalanaya is about to crash; He might as well call for the Black-Box!
/
Ranjith Manatunga / June 5, 2016
Very good reply…Plato….The way the “Two Ronnies” are messing up very soon we can have the Funersl Pyre ready for the YAHAPALANAYA……!
/
Lapatiya / June 5, 2016
You are correct Plato. Secretory to the President, P.B Abekoon is the number one in the Black book.
/
thrishu / June 5, 2016
For goodness sake, what has Ranil been doing for a almost 18-months. Given that he has come to power on a pledge to deal with the corrupt, he should have kept his own black-book instead of relying on gottas like that Dasaya fellow. Any self respecting manager keeps his own black book.
/
Lanka Watch / June 5, 2016
Wish to remind the PM that MR has the files of those who plundered the country. Why go further !
/
K.A Sumanasekera / June 5, 2016
Has the Quack changed Batalanda’s medication?.
CT has a few pages to go in to the Balck Book on Yahapalana Bond Trading..Right.
What happened to the Manilla Folder which the one time UNP stalwart, Mr Clean, Dr Mervyn handed over personally to Batalanda PM’s own F******CID?.
Hasn’t Batalanada’s boss Bodhi Sira got somethings to go in to this Black BooK?.
Or is it because Body Sira knew nothing, because he didn’t read or listen to the news then?.
/
Godot / June 5, 2016
Bloody bunch of bullshit!
As if the PM is deaf, dumb and blind, for him to be ignorant of most of what is going on under his nose (the Palpita farce is an example)!
Anyway, let’s see how far this seemingly pointless exercise will accomplish
/
M Riyas / June 5, 2016
public officials (seniors) have a policy of you scrub my back and I scrub yours.You call the others too to send the names to an email given by you.If you want ensure Rule of Law (yahapaalanaya ) introduce a mechanism to act for these so called Independent commissions.Because we don’t see equality,consistency,predictability,natural justice at the PSC.
Recruitment to all island services are a high handed act of officials due to giving marks at interviews since 2009.This should be done away.Exam results are issued to Secretary /pub Administration. He himself headed the one and only interview board where marks given were in decimal points.For ex 18.20,18.6 out of 25.This was introduced in 2009 to handpick people under previous notorious regime.So new govt should change it for the sake of justice.
Further PSC is fully run by officials belonging to SLAS.so all their systems for promotion,transfer,disciplinary acts are favourable to them. In the event of an inquiry against an officer,and if the head of dept is a party to conflict the officer concerned is at a receiving end because the PSC depend and act upon a confidential report of the head of dept which is against natural justice.
if a request for an appointment from SLAS officers for an SLAS officer there is no hangy pangy they will be given appointment.If it for others even if it comes from cabinet,they delay and deny it.
The PSC has trespassed the authority of the President and the Cabinet of ministers as well.
According to the Constitution President can appoint any number of secretaries under him.But the PSC allows only the SLAS officers appointed as Addl,SAS,or Asst Secretaries. All others are appointed as DG,or Directors paving the way for interacting officials from other ministers to identify them and act accordingly.
Most of SLAS officers in ministries,depts are in charge for file work where there is no need to prove their efficiency,performance.Therefore the PSC instead of performance appraisal has introduced EB exam and long 10 yrs experience for the next promotion. This is OK for them,but is unjustified in the case of operational and the core group officials who handle the executive work of their respective organisations.
That is why for the first time in the post independence history this govt had to admit officI ally that the public service is inefficenct in the budget speech 2016.
now the PM due to his inability to mould the SLFP ministers for whom yahapaalanaya is not a policy,is trying to distance the public officials from the public policies.
For example the system introduced for distribution of school uniform and fertiliser subsidy proved it.
/
Riyas / June 5, 2016
This govt consist of ministers and officials for and against Yahapaalanaya. UNP in 2015 Presidential and Parliamentary election fought for introduction of good governance. Now they are with people who were against good governance in the cabinet.
That is why the other day at a press conference at SLFP head quarter ministers SB and Vijithamuni justified the appointment of the main accused in the Rs 600 million sil redi scam as Addl Secretary.
SB also said there was no financial misuse at divineguma fund which is another credit to Basil R.
If Ranil W is interested to know as to how Rajapaksa siphoned off public money, pl revisit the estimates for Mahindodaya thakshana centres in schools.These were estimated to cost Rs 65 million where actual would not ha e exceeded even 30 million. Construction were given without tenders
I still remember how CBK showed us an aerial view of the palace built by SB built at a cost of Rs 650 million over media when he left for UNP.
/
shantha / June 5, 2016
What’s the point, these investigations, demands for names, and reports end up nowhere. First there is a huge hue and cry about the crimes, then people are questioned for hours, then some are sent in jail for a few days, then they are released, and that is the end of it. Looks like this government is unable to hold corrupt officials accountable.
This is Sri Lanka’s revolving door. The rogues from the previous regime are now operating among the present regime, still fleecing the country. This is sickening.
/
Estate Labourer / June 5, 2016
Doesn’t Ranil read the newspapers and news websites?
He is like the chap who sat up all night listening to a discourse on Ramayana; then in the morning he wanted to know how Rama was related to Sita!
/
Levi / June 5, 2016
What nonsense is this.
He spent 18months with his FCID. Nothing Happened. Now people are gradually come to realise nothing is ging to happen and loose their faith.
“SO”
he calls together with My3 to investigate the Public servants, as if he does not have enoungh names to prosicute.
The first batch he has to get rid of if at all he is actually willing is the officials of the Attorney General’s Dept.
Wahat to do aney. Nothing Will Happen. He will form a new commission of inquiry who will take another 42months when the Next elections will come.
ALL NATO. No Action Talk Only.
Why Wasdte any more time and energy in writing!
Cheers.
Levi
/
The Laughing Lebbe / June 5, 2016
Ha ha ha HA !
Nice Sunday morning joke, no ?
Why confine the Black Book to a “a list of names containing government officials who have been involved in various frauds committed during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure” ? These individuals may have only been following the examples of their ‘masters’.
Why not start by compiling a list of the ‘masters’ – of politicians (local govt., provincial & national level) who have been involved in various frauds and other forms of abuse of power committed during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure ?
How many such politicians are today propping-up RW’s Govt. ?
Dear RW, why don’t you first clean-up your own Augean Stables ?
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaaa !
/
Daham / June 5, 2016
Ranil is going against the wishes of President Sirisena. Recently, President has instructed FCID chief, Senior DIG Ravi Waidyalankara not to initiate any action against a particular set of officials and again on Thursday (June 2) urged him not to arrest Government officials over alleged abuse of public funds. So, at a time when President Sirisena protects the rogue officials Ranil tries to show us he is going to take action. Both are fooling us, the people.
/
Emil van der Poorten / June 5, 2016
Increasingly, it appears that Mr. Wickremesinghe’s own address book and those of his cohorts in cabinet would be appropriate substitutes for the “black book” he now seeks.
In the circumstances, it might be more appropriate to investigate WHO left the stable door open for the criminal horses to escape and WHY.
/
Funlover / June 5, 2016
Nearly 70 years and asking for the ‘black-book’. Does he not have any shame to be so openly hypocritical?
Mr Clean, please describe to us the deals you reached with Ali Baba on the night of 8th January 2015.
Fkg hypocrite!
/
vishvajith / June 5, 2016
In a similar situation, a future PM of Canada ( He went on to become PM ) told the sitting PM; ‘If you didn’t know what was going on and who was behind it, either you are blissfully ignorant or utterly stupid, either way you are not fit to Govern he said.
Gosh!
/
moderate / June 5, 2016
Dear Ranil
We did vote for you! If you want it again, cut through the red tape and get on with the cases. You too have questionable friends or school buddies! Get rid of Arjun Mahendra (unless you are obliged to him for funding ), then the other slum (scum) dog is the VAT minister. Do you realize that there is VAT on VAT? The other day I got a blood test done. The cost had doubled? Why the hospital says the test kit has gone up 15% due to VAT while there was another 15% for the testing I. E whole amount. Are the hospitals making use of your VAT scam??
Do you think people will vote again??? True the White vans are not there! But that’s not everything !!
Now One shot Ranjan is talking about the 200 million paid from the presidential fund to a peeping/jumping tom! Yes it is true but what about the 800 million paid to DM Jayaratne? Which is also true!!. Who else was paid millions from govt coffers for what. WHY DON’T YOU GO THROUGH THE FILES AND PUBLISH NAMES OF THOSE WHO WERE PAID OVER A MILLION? Was Duminda de S paid? If you don’t publish it you have things to hide!? Did MY3 during the previous birth or others who joined you got paid?? Who paid Rajitha’s bill? How much?? Who is the President that has the power to swindle our money?? Under YAHAPALANAYA please please publish the list before you get a wiki leak!!
/
moderate / June 5, 2016
Dear Ranil aiya,
We did vote for you! If you want it again, cut through the red tape and get on with the cases. You too have questionable friends or school buddies! Get rid of Arjun Mahendran (unless you are obliged to him for funding ), then the other slum (scum) dog is the VAT minister. Do you realize that there is VAT on VAT? The other day I got a blood test done. The cost had doubled? Why the hospital says the test kit has gone up 15% due to VAT while there was another 15% for the testing I. E whole amount. Are the hospitals making use of your VAT scam??
Do you think people will vote again??? True the White vans are not there! But that’s not everything !!
Now Ranjan R is talking about the 200 million paid from the presidential fund to a peeping/jumping tom! Yes it is true but what about the 800 million paid to DM Jayaratne? Which is also true!!. Who else was paid millions from govt coffers for what. WHY DON’T YOU GO THROUGH THE FILES AND PUBLISH NAMES OF THOSE WHO WERE PAID OVER A MILLION on MR SANCTION? Was Duminda de S paid? If you don’t publish it you have things to hide!? Did MY3 during the previous birth or others who joined you get paid?? Who paid Rajitha’s bill? How much?? Who is the President that has the power to swindle our money?? Under YAHAPALANAYA please please publish the list before you get another wiki leak or Central Bank leak!! Over to you Ranjan/Harsha!!
If you are transparent you will not dilly dally to expose everyone irrespective of affiliations now, after all it would be MR’S responsibility!!! You score your Brownie points without prosecuting anyone!
/
Brutus / June 6, 2016
He should start with his own cabinet! His Minister Vajira A’s explanation that he was not aware of Palpita’s indictment, and that he was appointed by the Public Services Commission shows he does NOT know what is going on in his ministry, when a very senior appointment is made. He is unfit to hold his portfolio, or he is complicit! Surely he should have questioned the appointment from the PSC instead of waiting until Civil Society questioned it! The general public was well aware of Palpita’s indictment! With ministers like this, God help this government and this country.
/