Sri Lanka’s Good Governance Champion, President Maithripala Sirisena is embroiled in an alleged bribery scandal amounting to millions of dollars involving an Australian Company at the time he was a cabinet minister.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Federal Police is currently carrying out investigations involving the iconic Snowy Mountains Engineering Company (SMEC) where it is reported that the company’s overseas staff allegedly bribed officials to secure a US $ 2.3 million aid funded sewerage project in Sri Lanka in 2011.
Sirisena
“Company emails also reveal Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and his adviser allegedly demanded political ‘donation’ to be paid by SMEC when Mr. Sirisena was a cabinet minister.” the Newspaper said.
Based on the investigations, the emails show a plot to skim the money off a World Bank-funded dam project in 2009. According to the Newspaper, if the company had made the ‘donation’ Sirisena was to approve the awarding of the dam contract to SMEC, which was worth US $ 1.8 million.
SMEC’s Sri Lankan manager, who was recently sacked, wrote in emails to two Australian colleagues that he wanted to “inform the minister/coordinating secretary” of the size of an alleged kickback to be paid and that he needed to “prioritise” certain payments to unnamed parties “since the signing of the contract would depend” on it, the Sydney Morning Herald said.
Club is the sign of vengeance and holds no man as a friend / August 25, 2016
Now Maithree can forget Maitreya , and go full guns and finish the clan.
He has now been given an opportunity .
/
Sama / August 25, 2016
Now or later higher criminals will take every actions to split SLFP. That is inevitable. But they will be rejected by the people – history proves.
As no other leaders in the country, this is the first time, a bunch of thugs make every efforts to take power not respecting traditional guidlines.
CBK did not show any interest in power after she ended her terms
Wijetunga did the same
JRJ did the same
All other leaders in srilanka and other neighbouring countries behaved like them.
But MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE not to respect them even after two terms admminitration – should be focused by grass eating folks that continuoulsly support him today.
The man and his abusive politics destroyed the country nationally and internationally.
Last night I happened to listen his Royal Astroligsts remarks on him – if any one with a bird brain listend to the remarks, they would all believe Mahinda Rajakashes is stupid as his Royal Astro men and other thakkadiyas surrounded by him.
/
MONEY ,MONEY ,ITS A RICH MAN'S WORLD / August 25, 2016
Who ever though CT could be bought for money? that is how cheap the media has become today,I knew it the day I saw them post Namal’s article.
CT – is no more a peoples voice and it is no more a reliable source. I can bet my life The Rajapakshes own CT now ,I am sure now none of the original founders are controlling CT,if one notices there are no more articles from the original writers anymore.
So it is time to do a full boycott.That is if this is ever published
/
max / August 25, 2016
Who has bought you MONEY, MONEY, ITS A RICH MAN’S WORLD to label CT as such? When the real picture comes out of some self claimed “saints”, those who worship the cardboard saint, gets upset. Wait and see ‘money, money’, many more to come.
/
Ruwan / August 25, 2016
I am not surprised! Take a look at the family of the president. His brother was a sergeant in the Sri Lanka Air force! now he is one of the richest men in Sri Lanka who owns the Aralya group! He also has the rice mafia and owns many hotels! All politicians are corrupt! This should be investigated by the FCID
/
Muthu / August 25, 2016
With $18 billion in dubai bank account MR can easily buy any government he needs. Shame on Australia government for trying to sabotage the reconciliation efforts.
/
woW / August 25, 2016
haha.. you must be joking right?
/
max / August 25, 2016
Paw oya Muthu. Dont you think, there should be a limit to stupidness of yours?
/
Mj / August 25, 2016
Australian is an junk yard….
/
IF YOU HUNT GHOSTS ,THEY WILL HUNT YOU & WILL FINISH YOU / August 25, 2016
Warning
This is what happens when you put the cart before the horse and chase ghosts.
The biggest blunder this government did and are continuing to indulge in, is trying to buy time chasing ghosts.
Yahapalana is not egoism and revenge , both have always destroyed people .
The government has wasted valuable time sending in and out opponents of the past regime, and has given the opponents plenty of time and space to plot and plan ,which they are masters in the game, (give the wicked devil its dues)
It is time to wake up, The President ,The Prime Minister and the entire cabinet of Ministers must become more vigilant.
Now you will have a lot of wolves in Sheep clothing visiting all of you ,remember money and women are the two most powerful weapons that can take any man apart.
Do not deal with anyone ,no matter even if he or she has visible wings , they are not angels, they are devils in disguise .
Do not get involved in any recommendations ,approvals of any projects to any foreign companies or locals , they all would probably be double agents .
Just sit ,relax and create a true transparent mechanism to take care of accountability.
May The Triple Gem bless you dear Mr. President
/
ramona therese fernando / August 25, 2016
If true, wonder how Sirisena will justify this one. Guess it depends on the actual amount that passed hands that is more than the usual processing-tax (of there is such a thing). The % monetary difference between the old and new regime’s dirty dealings should tell which is the worse regime. It seems to be the general part and parcel of Lankan political culture, as any typical third-world entity.
Such gross un-ethics, and with World-Bank money at that, is very troubling to see. Let’s hope that this won’t give a bad message and cultural trait to other aspiring Lankan money-makers, who will screw our land even more so. Indeed in many Lankan communities around the world, such cookery is hailed. The contractor of such deals held up as the epitome of clever money-making success. No wonder we never progress as a nation.
/
truth finder / August 25, 2016
Qouting the link by Tani,
“MEC’s Sri Lankan manager, who was recently sacked, wrote in emails to two Australian colleagues that he wanted to “inform the minister/co-ordinating secretary” of the size of an alleged kickback to be paid and that he needed to “prioritise” certain payments to unnamed parties “since the signing of the contract would depend” on it.”
“In a statement overnight, Sri Lanka’s President Sirisena said he had “no knowledge of the incident” and requested further details to “ascertain the involvement of any of his office staff.
The president also said he would co-operate “in any investigation” in Australia and “will also instruct the relevant local authorities to investigate”.
This is an unfair tainted picture by CT!! I am in no way supportive of anyone. But we know the advisors and secretaries or family allegedly are proxies. But on many instances proxies have their own accounts and demand bribes on behalf of the minister, on the other hand people like MR ignored ‘sillara salli’ bribes to keep procurers happy while keeping the mega deals to themselves! On the other hand why should a sacked employee request bribes to unknown parties on behalf of a minister! Initially see why he was sacked and see details of allegations! If MY3 is transparent, he should publicly investigate it and prosecutell the local manager and advisor! AFP on the other hand should cooperate to bring facts to the investigator not the president!
I feel that CT has not done a very transparent report! They have only quoted sections implicating MY3 rather than giving the full picture! The image of CT “in journalism truth is a process” slogan could Change to “half truth too is is a proces”
/
Leo / August 25, 2016
I only see lame excuses and deafening silence by the elites and Marxists over this damning accusation. Quite clear their beef with Rajapakshe wasn’t over corruption allegations.
/
Harsha / August 25, 2016
Please Guys publish the full article..not the half of it.
// SMEC has confirmed a “request for a political donation”, but insists an internal investigation found no donation was made and the firm “continues to fully co-operate with the AFP.” //
where is this part which contains in original article.
bull shit
/
Kapila Keerthi / August 25, 2016
This is not a fact. Australians want to clean their companies and it’s a good thing. It’s time President Sirisena speak out and expose the grand scale international bribery that took place at the time and probably now. It’s time to Act Mr. Sirisena, and show us there’s reason to support you.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 25, 2016
There’s nothing in this report to implicate Maithri personally in bribery. Please click, open and study:
http://www.smh.com.au/business/australian-companies-linked-to-bribe-scandals-in-sri-lanka-and-congo-20160823-gqyzlp.html
Maithri is the one man with all the credentials to unite our country, and that should be our priority.
/
Mrs Ismail / August 25, 2016
Looks like goons in the Presidential Secretariat, spearheaded by a lawyer working there, have gone into big time damage control. They are sending many emails to CT to whitewash Sirisena’s bribery and corruption. Shame on you Sirisena. Resign today, not tomorrow.
/
Ajantha / August 25, 2016
Now see how Bodhi Sira changing his personality. new pair of gold glasses, black coated hair, and so on
/
Ajantha / August 25, 2016
Disgraceful and cheap man. I do not know why I voted for him and now I regret. I think he should be ready to commit suicide when MR comes to power.
/
thondamannay / August 25, 2016
It appears the AFP has had enough of Sira and is looking for a change in Presidency.
MR/RW could be a better combination.
/
Rohan R / August 25, 2016
Why are we killing the messenger. Look folks all yahapalana supporters MS is corrupt, not the saint you thought or you want him to be
/
Wilson F S / August 25, 2016
Please read the whole article in the Aussie Newspapers website, before attacking Sirisena. This is only an allegation with no proof other than a reference to an email sent by a Sri Lankan employee. The Us$ 2.3 m project was a sewearge project in 2011 and had nothing to do with the allegation against Sirisena which the Aussie newspaper says was in connection with a us$ 1.8m Dam Project in 2009! You people who are attcking the President based on the CT article are making fools of yourselves without checking the original article.
/
ranil / August 26, 2016
Yahapalana Sira has now become pagaa Sira.
/
ruwan Semasinghe / August 27, 2016
Yes. He is Mr One Percent. ( 1% bribe to award government contracts.)
/
artha / August 26, 2016
Full artcles below.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/australian-companies-linked-to-bribe-scandals-in-sri-lanka-and-congo-20160823-gqyzlp.html
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sirisena-in-soup-over-bribe-scandal-involving-australian-company/
Now who is going to FCID???
/
JP Piyadasa / August 26, 2016
Heh hehhe ! Is this the one and only alleged bribery scandal the Turnbull government could find during MARA’s entire 10 year old corrupt regime ???
The report says “But it said its internal investigation had found that no payment was ever made by the company in response, and the firm “continues to fully cooperate with the AFP”. Suggest that AFP dig into all work carried out by Aussie companies during MARA regime, may find Mr. 10% in shady deal, sometimes ?
/
Hamlet / August 26, 2016
Why are all these comments Emotional? Why does no one Investigate or Discuss Facts?
/
Nagananda / August 27, 2016
When those who holds high offices in the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers engage in the corruption in the highest magnitude habitually which the citizens consider nothing wrong, failures of any such countries are inevitable and the country’s that respect the Rule of Law called such Nations ‘FAILED STATES’
http://socialjustice.watch/uncategorized/abuse-of-tax-free-vehicle-permits-of-mps-for-misappropriation-of-public-funds/
/
Bandu Gunarathna / September 1, 2016
You and I cannot decide who is rite and who is wrong.Only the ones above us can direct the finger to the culprit.We do not have such powers to see the outcome.As human beings we know about one thing that neither party cannot deny.It is your conscience. No one can challenge against it. So inside you know you are wrong and that itself is enough to suffer.
/