By H. L. D. Mahindapala –
H. L. D. Mahindapala
Sri Lankans are now living in the very early days of the promised “ideal country” which, according to the Manifesto of Maithripala Sirisena – Ranil Wickremesinghe – Champika Ranawaka government, will be created within six years.
The attention of the readers is drawn to the following two edited news items to indicate the early trends of this path-breaking political journey. Please note the date “January 29” which is most relevant to both news items.
News Item 1: The Daily Mirror (January 13, 2015) : “The Mini-Budget of the new Government’s 100-day programme will be presented in Parliament on January 29 with a relief package for the people as promised in the run-up to the presidential election, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said today.
“After assuming duties at his office at the Government Treasury complex yesterday, the minister said the mini budget would also contain proposals to reduce prices on 10 essential commodities including fuel.
“The people gave a mandate to this government to bring about a palpable change in the system of governance and for a stable economic which was drifting aimlessly. ….
The minister said the Maithripala administration was not looking at minimising corruption but at eliminating it fully.
“Therefore, acts such bribery, obtaining huge commissions between 20% and 50% and other forms of corruption will not be tolerated under any circumstance. Corrupt officials will be severely dealt with irrespective of their political affiliation and status. Officials need not be subservient to anyone under this administration,” he said.
“We criticised the Rajapaksa regime while in the opposition and now it is our turn to practice what we preached,” the minister said.
News Item 2: Ceylon Today (November 14, 2014): “It was alleged in the Colombo High Court yesterday (13) that United National Party (UNP) MP Ravi Karunanayake had actively facilitated the transfer of Rs 390 million to Sri Lanka,…
by infamous Sri Lankan American and former hedge fund manager and billionaire, Raj Rajaratnam. It was alleged that Karunanayake was directly involved in this fraud and the exchange controller had questioned him on three occasions about it.
The former Additional Exchange Controller revealed that three million US dollars were received by a local private bank and Ravi Karunanayake intervened to collect the funds.
This came to light during cross examination of the former Central Bank Additional Exchange Controller, Kumara Perera, by Senior State Counsel Dileepa Peiris.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court Judge Devika Livera De Tennekoon.
The case was postponed until 29 January 2015, on which date the accused were ordered to be present in Court.
As stated earlier, what is important is the date, January 29, 2015. Obviously, the Finance Minister, Karunanayake, can’t be present in Parliament to present his mini-budget on January 29 and simultaneously be at the High Court to face the charges against him.
The fixing of one date for two events raises a few questions:
Q 1: Why was January 29 fixed as the date to present the mini-budget in Parliament when Karunanayake knew that he was due to appear in Court to face charges on that very day?
Q2: What is so special about January 29? Why not January 28? Or 30?
Q 3: Is this a ruse to get a postponement of the trial?
Q4: Is the inevitable postponement a sign of things to come?
Q5: Is this a crafty tactic to interfere with the course of justice?
Q6: Will there be attempts to cover-up the case?
Q7: As some of the key departments handling this case (example: Exchange Control) come under the Finance Ministry will there be pressure brought to manipulate/cook the evidence in courts? Remember, some of the files related to the administration of the CWE under Karunanayake went up in smoke?
Q8: Is this going to be the first of many cases that are likely to recur in due course to undermine the independence of the judiciary?
Q9: More importantly, why was Karunanayake facing serious financial irregularities in the High Court appointed as Finance Minister of the promised “ideal country” of My-3-pala-naya?
Q10: In appointing Karunanayake as Finance Minister – the epicenter of corruption and mismanagement – was due consideration given to his known record in the private and public sectors?
Q11: As one of the Vice-Presidents of IDU can Ranil Wickremesinghe justify his nomination of Karunanayake to be the finance minister by giving another example of an accused facing serious financial irregularities in courts appointed as finance minister?
Q12: Last but not the least, why did President Maithripala Sirisena appoint Karunanayake as his finance minister when it was public knowledge that he was facing charges in courts? Is this a good start for his six-year journey to build the “ideal country”?
Palayang Yako / January 14, 2015
Mahindapala:
Only a stupid goat like you, actively supporting the most rotten bunch of thieves that this country has ever had in power, would have the nerve to point fingers at ANYONE about corruption.
Not only are your paymasters THIEVES, you belong in the same category but we hope you’ll be outside to throw kadaley to your bosses once they are behind bars.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
No answers to any of the questions!
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Lanka Liar / January 14, 2015
So many questions Mahinda Paa. They are all unnecessary now. Remember when My3 said we don’t need any king, that included the King of Nonsense too.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
No answers to any of the questions!
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Jim softy / January 14, 2015
Mahindapala is an extremely dishonest person. The issue here is he can not get over the loss of Mahinda Rajapakse in the top seat.
Sri Lankan politicians began stealing from people since the independence. first to be accused was Sir Oliver Gunathilake who came from poor back grounds (his father was a post master) and and he bought Grape – vineyards in France. How did he get that money.
Since then many politicians engaged in that.
Beginning from JRJ, every Executive president in Sri lanka stole from people. Mahinda Rajapakse and his cohorts were unprecedented in staling public wealth and cheating and deceiving public.
The past is past. Now the question is how to get back what every we could from the most recent thieves.
Some thieves escaped to USA and to Singapore.
Mahindapala if you are honest talk about those.
I don’t think people will let Mahinda Rajapakse come again. JUST WATCH. It is just like CBK coming back as every body talked.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
No answers to any of the questions!
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Donald J Gnanakone / January 15, 2015
Mahindapala is a well known Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist racist of the worst kind for decades. Just because he has a little ability to write English he cannot write malicious LIES about the Tamils or anyone connected to the Tamils.
What he has written just now is pure and absolute rubbish. Editor, Please do not dignify this racist writer to abuse and vilify our new finance Minister. Do not forget that the Mattala Mattaya was Finance Minister for the last ten years and before that it was Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunge for 11 years. Compared to them Ravi Karunanayake is a well qualified professional accountant and an experienced/successful businessman.
He also has been a 20 year veteran in Parliament, Assistant Leader of the UNP, and a former Minister of Trade and Commerce.
What has this donkey (Burruwa) done in his life. Other than be a racist and chauvinist he sucks up to this bosses in the government undertaking of Lake House to become the editor just for a few years. Mahindapala cannot and could not get a job with any other publication and not even at the NATION where Malinda Seneviratne is the editor. Or even at Sunday Leader where Asanga Seniviratne is the front man owner for the Rajapakses who facilitated the loan and the government started giving advertising work and printing jobs for the Leader.
Ironically, the Rajapakses were forced back Mattala after losing the elections by a narrow margin.
As for the other person who sent the 3 Million dollars, lost all the interest and use of money for so many years since the Rajapakses and P B Jayasundera illegally blocked the return of the money in US dollars.
This money was sent to conclude a financial deal to purchase a major shares in a local bank at a particular bank at the going rate which the sellers agreed to sell. Because of the cussed attitude of the Rajapakses and Milinda Moragoda/P B Jayasundera the buyers lost the deal, usage of the money, as well as the interest.
The Rajapakses were angry with Billionaire Raj Rajaratnam a friend of mine and so was his father J M R, because the Rajapakses asked for a big donation through their wheeler dealer broker Milinda Horagoda aka Moragoda the Grand son of N U Jayawarde and son of Chris Pinto formerly of the UN.
This US born US citizen who was Rajapakse’s Minister of Justice also operated several concentration camps during the 2009-2011 where Rape, Molestations, Torture, arbitrary arrest and disappearance occurred regularly. There was a lot of Black Mail and exhotion of money for various degrees of dispensation to the victims of the concentration camps. The total number of victims was 305,000 where they were severely ill-treated, and beaten under his administration
The court case can easily go on without the presence of the Finance minister, but he will be represented by his team of attorneys. There was NO independence of the Judiciary during the Rajapakse regime. Now, it will be a different situation and the Judge who was unfair and dependent on the Rajapakses for his promotion will become suddenly straight as an arrow, or even slowly ask for a transfer himself to escape the indignity of reversing the course of the case.
I can be 110% certain that all the money (3 Million Dollars) will be fully returned to the buyer a Tamil Billionaire who was a Sri Lankan for many years and an old boy of St. Thomas’s. After the Tsunami he gave 20 Million dollars to build homes for the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims. He was a great philanthropist. Instead of being proud of a Tamil Sri Lanka billionaire several Sinhala GOSL was only jealous of him. Another sad case of Racism by the Sinhalese. These Sinhalese are so ungrateful.
Donald J Gnanakone
Tamils For Justice
Founder.
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Kettikaran / January 15, 2015
It is only those Sinhalese who hardly know Raj Rajaratnam who will call him names. This fine son of this island made it in the highest portals of the US Stock market – honestly. Like in most places where businessmen thrive, he naturally made his share of competitors-enemies. They were not going to allow another non-WASP American – and in this case an Asian colored – to make the heights in the highest temple of US Trade and Commerce. Every major player in the Stock market there engages in some form of insider-trading. Rajaratnam was trapped through a carefully laid out plan. And to mitigate matters in American and global eyes an Attorney of Indian origin was used. Rajaratnam did not steal anyone’s money. He made it legally in the USA and he used some of these funds to stimulate the Colombo Stock Exchange, his original home that was trying to come up in global business. It is all too well know the local Stock market has gained a dubious reputation as a pump-and-dump outfit dominated mostly by a few crooks enjoying political patronage. He gave generously to all Sri Lankans – Sinhala, Tamil and others in altruistic projects. At least let us be grateful to such a man. Like Ivan Boesky, the Russian millionaire the American establishment sent to prison – because he was becoming a challenge to the establishment – Raj Rajaratnam will be out in the next few years on parole.
By the way whatever happened to that notorious wheeler-dealer Milinda M, whose family ruined multiple thousands of investors in that massive Mercantile Credit fraud of NUJ. Like Kotelawala, they too went free thanks to our wonky political patronage.
Kettikaran
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Patriot / January 16, 2015
Everything in USA is manipulated and under the control of Zionist Mafia.
All others are eventually cut and chopped.
Rajapakses followed same.
Better be aware.
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douglas / January 14, 2015
Do we and CT need a “Reporter” to publish news items that we have already read? Mr. Mahindapala why not think of some other “suitable” vocation to serve your “Masters”, because you are not doing a good job of washing those dirty linen left in your laundry basket.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
No answers to any of the questions!
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / January 14, 2015
The writer is having a go at a newly appointed minister alleging previous instances of fraud. We cannot claim to know the truth of the matter and it is for a court to decide.
Yet, why cast aspersions on the new government when there are enormous amounts of allegations of corruption against the former regime?
If the writer genuinely seeks honest governance and fair play, he should have kept charging the former regime as vociferously. But why only now?
An honest answer would be in order, don’t you think?
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NAK / January 15, 2015
No answers to any of the questions!
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Easton Scott / January 14, 2015
Mahindapala
Despicable man though you are, I would encourage you to continue to raise issues such as this in the public fora, AND present evidence and relative information to the Bribery Commissioner and Inland Revenue authorities if you feel there is a case to be filed and cause to be showed. File it now or shut up forever.
If you have more intimate information that will help incriminate people in the previous regime, then out it now – the country will thank you for it.
We need checks and balances and control mechanisms in our society in order to keep politicians and bureaucrats, government officals and corporate people honest and focused. And bring previous miscreants to book.
Even despicable people like you serve a good cause when you raise issues such as this.
Now let the new ‘management’ of our country respond to your complaint. If they do not, hound them again.
They are the servants of the people, as magnificently stated by our new President.
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observer / January 15, 2015
It seems that those who vociferously threw accusations at the previous regime can’t take the heat when their own are at the receiving end.
Most certainly the questions from HLDM are pertinent. Is the finance ministry the shape of things to come?
Time will tell.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
Ven.Rathana and Minister Champika Ranawaka,over to you!
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Praveen / January 15, 2015
Mr.Scott
At least Ravi brought in Foreign currency into Sri Lanka, where as Rajapakse fraudsters took Foreign currency out of Sri Lanka.
Who you think is better.
Check your brains first.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
Hey mate those are Tiger funds.
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Godaya / January 15, 2015
Good govern and Change are imported ornaments came from western countries and US to topple the national governments. It is just like socialism in old days (That’s why JRJ also include Democratic Socialist Republic of SL in our constitution). Even people talking about those words doesn’t know about the meaning of those words. It is just a fashion these days at SL due to LIES MADE BY CHAMPIKA RANAWAKA AND GOONS. Every mature people in SL knows who is Ravi K, Mangala, CBK, Ranawaka, Hakeem (Probably once again we can see lots of payment at Colombo will fill with small shops, that’s why he got ministry of urban development), Rishard etc..and they are very popular for corruption. THIS IS THE BIGINING OF YAHAPALANAYA. THIS WILL END UP WITH BIG CHANGE. I would like to thank Mr Mahindapala for writing this article and please keep writing. by reading those comments I can see how some people get really upset when he point out truth with facts. Coconut Is coconut and Tail of dog cannot be straight by putting in to bamboo for his whole life. Sorry for my poor english
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NAK / January 15, 2015
Don’t worry mate.English is foreign language.
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Lalith / January 15, 2015
Well said mate. When they are in our side they are more than god charactters, when got to the other side, they are devil and so bad. Most commenters here, rajapaksha side is full of devils and MY3 side is full of gods. Ha ha haaaa.
Jayawewa YAHAPALANAYA
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Naga Ramalingam / January 15, 2015
It is shocking how some people would like to dismiss every accusation when that is hurled in their backyard. What HLDM has raised is substantiated with details, not just witch hunt. Some non porous heads are unable to accept the truth when it comes to their supporters. Covering up is a dangerous game. Hey guys, Stop blaming the whistle blowers.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
Naga, this only proves the calibre of the people who support this government.
For them what ever they do it is right and it is wrong only when others do it.
It is called American policy.
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Saman Gune / January 15, 2015
Any allegation of corruption needs to be investigated. Ravi shouldn’t be spared. But as Mahindapala says this is still an allegation and not proved in courts.
Now here is an interesting fact for Mahindapala.
MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA was FOUND GUILTY by supreme court of Sri Lanka for playing out funds meant to be for innocent victims of Tsunami. Then CJ released MR expecting MR to do good for the public in the future.
Mahindapala is writing about a fly but ignoring an Elephant! obviously for political reasons!!!
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Godwing / January 15, 2015
That is not True. Pres. Mahinda Rajapaksha was never found guilty by Supreme Court. That is utterly rubbish. HOW EVER CHANDRIKA BANDARANAYAKE FOUND GUILTY BY SUPREME COURT FOR Waters Edge case and fine for 2 million Rs, Not only that she also responsible for steeling funds received from JICA to built Colombo-katunayaka Hwy and never built that during here time and she manage to pocket 9 billion Rs by the help with Ronie Pieris. Unfortunately after MR came to power he never talk about that and obtain money from china exim bank and built it.
I think I have to say the same thing what Naga Ramalingam says.
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Pradeep / January 16, 2015
Godwing,
I think you are incorrect on the Tsunami verdict.
Ex.CJ Sarath N. Silva now says that he regret for giving wrong verdict on Tsunami scam.
Had he given the correct verdict that day, Pres.Rajapakse would have corrected his mistakes then and would have still stayed in power.
Ex CJ Sarath Silva is responsible for Pres.Rajapakse’s down fall.
Corruption was the main reason for Rajapakses Loosing Presidential elections.
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Pradeep / January 15, 2015
Mahindapala,
Are you a goat to think that bringing in 390 Million Rupees of Foreign currency into the country is a bad idea. Is there any restrictions as to not to bring in foreign currency into the country when a party supporter is donating that money to it’s election campaign. After all the donor is a Sri Lankan who reside in USA. Of couse he may have issues with the US government, but it has nothing to do with contributing to his party he likes.
At the moment we need more of Foreign exchange and foreign Donations to our country and not less.
When South Korea was in the verge of insolvent of not been able to pay IMF loans, many South Korean expatriates donated even their Gold and sold their houses and remitted them to rescue their country. Can you be an example of a South Korean.
What Rajapakses have done to our country is un imaginable. You will here more in coming weeks.
Can you raise 100,000 US Dollars your self in case Sri Lanka needs them urgently. I bet if you can raise even 5,000 US Dollars.
Please MYOB and help our country first to get rid of the corrupt dirty crooks.
We need many more of Ravi Karunanayakes to bring in FOREX to Sri Lanka and not the fake Pyramid scam joker and hedging fraudster Cabaral.
You should be thankful to God for rescuing our country from the mega Alibaba family crooks.
Hope you see the difference.
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Lalith / January 15, 2015
I agree with you. Then cry for a good uncorrupted team. with a KAMBA HORA like Ravi K, who ate out SATHOSA in three weeks, how could you achieve it.
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Pradeep / January 16, 2015
Don’t worry. Lass making Sathosa was doing much better after taken over by the Private sector enterprise.
Rajapakse took it over from the Private enterprise after coming into power.
What happened to profit making Sri Lankan Air now loosing 16 Billion per year after taking over by the Government.
Who is paying for those losses…….Should be your Grand Children.
Fake Patriot Modayas like you do not understand Business and Trade.
They need Talent, experience, skill and hard work.
Raj Rajaratnam is a Jewel, a wizard and an asset.
Rajapakses are born crooks, liars and cheats.
Hope you see the difference.
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J&J / January 15, 2015
If only Mahindapala reported this way during the MR regime or at all times our country would not be facing this mess. The problem with this journalist is that he writes according to who butters his bread and the only people who lose is the people of the country because he chooses what to conceal and what to reveal.
On a positive note, at least this Minister has a case pending, which means that he is going to get a fair trial and allegations are going to be heard. In the previous regime nothing of this happened. They were the judge, jury and executioner.
To you Mahindapala, in a few years when you pass away how do you want the people to remember you? Right now you do not have any respect. In the last few years of your life I suggest that you do something to earn a bit of respect.
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NAK / January 15, 2015
My dear pradeep,
There laws pertaining to bringing foreign exchange in to a country. It is like that all over the world. When you break that law,you become subject to a judiciary proceeder and if you can prove that you not violated the law no problem.
It becomes a serious issue when try to avoid the legal process(remember Tangalle PS chairman where you were screaming your head out)by using ones status and position. Now that he is FM he may choose to and has the power to change the law with retroactive effect.
What needs to be done is to give a proper explanation why this particular date was chosen for the so called mini-budget!
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Pradeep / January 16, 2015
NAK,
Could you first find out how Basil Rajapakse acquired four luxury houses in California after becoming the Minister of Economic Development.
Same with US Citizen Gota. What is our Bank of Ceylon branch doing in Seychelles with only 700,000 inhabitants. This is just the tip of the ice burg.
You better find out where all our FOREX gone missing.
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Asoka / January 15, 2015
My3’s first blunder is Ravi’s inclusion in the Cabinet.
Amazing to read comments by dickheads attacking Mahindapala.
Well said Mahindapala.
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Pradeep / January 16, 2015
Then who you think should be the best suitable Minister of Finance. Give us your views.
I still prefer that all the Responsibility, Transactions and all decision making in relation to Money, investments and Finance relating matters should be handled by a highly specialized, experienced and well qualified board of Advisory Committees. Not the Fortune teller types.
No more one or few people be allowed to take decisions relating to all Finance relating matters in Sri Lanka in future, but an executive board.
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Laki / January 15, 2015
Its still early days boys and girls! Please don’t get too excited and start throwing your toys out of the pram. Ask all the questions you want but a network that was created in ten years need more time than a week. Calm down. Take a deep breath. It will all happen in good time.
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RM / January 16, 2015
The date was set long before RK was ever thought of for the role and appears quite baseless.
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Good Governance / January 16, 2015
Mahindapala may be a crony of the previous government. But the questions he raised need an answer in the name of Good Governance.
If there is a clash of dates, then in the name of Good Governance, Minister Karunanayake must hand over the piloting the of the finance bill on the 29th either to his deputy or to a colleague and attend court, respecting the judiciary and its independence.
OVER TO YOU PREZ SIRISENA AND PM RANIL.
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Dharmasiri R Gunaratne / January 16, 2015
True, Mahindapala is a supporter of Ex President, but date fixed for the case already known to RK. He should have not selected that date for the presentation of the mini budget. If RK is true to himself on good governance and independence of judiciary he should change the date and go to courts to safe guard the “My3 palanaya”
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Analyst / January 16, 2015
HEH Mahinda Goat
I have a husband whose believes are just like yours. Get over it let the Servant of the country to serve the masters (The Srilankans) Not the other way round as your king modaya did and ruined the country and himself. Go and soak your vile head in freezing water. Everybody is hoping for good governance except you.
Colombo Telegraph please don’t allow this kind of psychos with warped mind set to write here. BLOCK HIM .
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Truth Seeker / January 19, 2015
It is good to see people have discussions about topics like these. To answer all these questions we will have to wait until 29th Jan 2015.
Until that day, if you do not have evidence to prove the guiltiness of the alleged, better to stay your mouths shut, because mongering your rage over people who voted the current government will not prove anything.
it is good if people who have evidences against ravi karunanayake or any other can keep bringing them in front of the law because hopefully there will be an independant non-political judiciary system in Sri Lanka within the 100 days plan.
it could be first in first out/last in first out or any other type of sequence to charge and arrest the criminals but in the end everyone should be punished if proved guilty for corruption.
No rajapakses may escape their deserved punishments, no karunanayakes, not even lord Budhdha can escape the Karma of commiting sins therefore everybody should keep in mind that “further washing clothes of your corrupted favorite politician” will not keep him clean but his deeds…
may peace be among you… stop washing clothes and mud bathing… the free judiciary system is to come… bring your evidences to the court and let the justice take its role.
waiting till 29th !!!!
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Charles Rush / January 20, 2015
Rajapakse’s alleged unacceptable activity DO NOT justify alleged fraudulent activity of Karunanake.
Nobody should condone corrupt or fraudulent activity however partisan one may be.
Therefore, do not shoot the messenger but be opened eyed.
Wouldn’t it have been better if Mr Sirisena had waited until Karunaanayake’s case re Exchange Control breaches, now in court made the decision to appoint him the Finance Minister or not!
Now, where is the good governance Mr Sirisena wish to achieve?
Think about it
Think about it! To
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