{"id":200134,"date":"2019-03-27T16:03:24","date_gmt":"2019-03-27T10:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=200134"},"modified":"2019-03-30T23:59:51","modified_gmt":"2019-03-30T18:29:51","slug":"questionable-fdis-money-laundering-eu-blacklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/questionable-fdis-money-laundering-eu-blacklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Questionable FDIs, Money Laundering & EU \u2018Blacklist\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0<\/b>Amrit Muttukumaru<\/a> –<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Amrit Muttukumaru<\/p><\/div>\n

Hard on the heels of the top headline news item \u2018<\/i><\/b>Smooth start for FDI: Govt.\u2019<\/i><\/b> in Sri Lanka\u2019s only stand-alone business journal <\/b>\u2018Daily FT\u2019 on March 20 giving pride of place to a purported \u201c$ 3.85 billion investment for an oil refinery in Hambantota\u201d <\/b>where the Sultanate of Oman is to have a 30% stake comes the DENIAL <\/b>from Salim al-Aufi, Under-Secretary in Oman\u2019s Ministry of Oil and Gas <\/b>by stating \u201cIt came as news to me, I don\u2019t know who is signing the cheque for $ 3.8 billion.\u201d\u00a0<\/b>Intriguingly the Oman denial next day in the \u2018Daily FT\u2019 did not receive the prominence anywhere comparable with the controversial investment story! What does this convey about our businessmen controlled media?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The remaining 70% stake is reportedly held by Silver Park International Pvt Ltd the \u201cSingapore investment vehicle owned by India\u2019s Accord Group\u201d. The question arises whether the \u2018Accord Group\u2019 which does not even have a significant web presence has the resources to have a 70% stake in a \u2018$ 3.8 billion\u2019 oil refinery? \u2018Accord Group (India) Pvt Ltd\u2019 which does have a web presence claims to be an \u201cexecutive search firm<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Despite Reuters reporting that \u2018Silver Park\u2019 was \u201cregistered in Singapore\u201d as recently as June 2017, \u2018Silver Park<\/a>\u2019 claims it is \u201can international oil and gas refinery company spread in all over the world\u201d.<\/b>\u00a0This is contradicted <\/b>by Reuters stating<\/a> \u201cThe refinery will be Chennai-based Accord\u2019s first foray into oil refining\u201d<\/b>.\u00a0Will the BOI shed clarity on this discrepancy?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is alleged that three of Silver Park International\u2019s four directors are family members of controversial Tamil Nadu senior politician S. Jagathrakshakan.<\/p>\n

A Google search indicates that the address<\/b> of Silver Park International Pte. Ltd: 18 Roberts Lane, #03-01, Goodland Building, Singapore 218297 is the address of Sigma Corporate Solutions Pte Ltd. and that Sigma offers \u2018virtual\u2019<\/b> office and other such facilities from this location.\u00a0 <\/span>A further Google search indicates there are many companies<\/b> that use the same address as \u2018Sigma\u2019 for correspondence purposes<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The BOI has now shifted the goalposts from Oman\u2019s Oil & Gas Ministry to Oman Trading International <\/b>also said to be owned by the Sultanate of Oman.<\/p>\n

The Board of investment (BOI) falling under the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade went gung-ho at a news conference on this purported \u201c$ 3.85 billion\u201d FDI. The Cabinet Minister responsible for the BOI is former UNP Chairman, Malik Samarawickrama a close associate of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe.<\/p>\n

Volkswagen & Tyre FDIs<\/b><\/p>\n

One wonders whether this is a replay of the much hyped 2017 Volkswagen <\/b>vehicle assembly plant in Kuliyapitiya which turned out to be a hoax. Those who hyped the Volkswagen assembly plant are largely the same persons now hyping the purported oil refinery in Hambantota. There was even a \u201cground breaking ceremony<\/a>\u201d<\/i> <\/b>for the Volkswagen plant.<\/p>\n

Even the earlier 2016 $<\/b>75 million tyre manufacturing plant <\/b>in Horana is mired in controversy<\/strong><\/a> due to its promoter\u2019s alleged involvement in controversial business dealings under the Rajapaksa administration. This case brings into focus the cosy relationship between competing politicians and the raison d’\u00eatre why competing administrations are reluctant to hold wrongdoers accountable.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Although the tyre manufacturing plant is held out by BOI to be a joint venture<\/b> between the Sri Lankan Dubai based promoter Nandana\u00a0Lokuwithana and world renowned Italian tyre manufacturer Marangoni <\/b>S.p.A., this appears to be not factual<\/b>. The Marangoni website<\/a> does not include Sri Lanka in its global network.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Will BOI clarify the allegation in the \u2018Economy Nex<\/a>t\u2019 website that the sole Marangoni <\/b>connection is \u201cto sell old equipment in a closed plant to Ceylon Steel Corporation\u201d. The Chairman and owner of Ceylon Steel Corporation\u00a0is Nandana Lokuwithana who is the promoter of the tyre manufacturing plant in Horana.<\/p>\n

\u2018Earned\u2019 EU \u2018Blacklist\u2019?<\/b><\/p>\n

The above mentioned shenanigans in relation to questionable FDIs must be viewed in the more than year old European Union (EU) \u2018BLACKLIST\u2019 placed on Sri Lanka for money laundering subsequent to the \u2018Financial Action Task Force\u2019 (FATF) placing the country on its \u2018GREY LIST\u2019 from November 2017<\/b>. The FATF recommendations are \u201crecognised as the global anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standard.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Readers can judge whether or not Sri Lanka has EARNED<\/b> the \u2018Blacklist\u2019 from the following examples:<\/p>\n

1) Notwithstanding the FATF in October 2016<\/b> giving NOTICE that the country will be assessed on the effectiveness of measures put in place to combat money laundering, Sri Lanka on 20 November 2017\u00a0<\/span><\/b> in CALLOUS DISREGARD of this FATF determination made its contentious<\/b> Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 further liberalizing capital inflows EFFECTIVE. On this date the Exchange Control Act, No. 24 of 1953 was repealed.<\/p>\n

2) It has been plausibly argued that the new Act (i) does not have appropriate penal sanctions to discourage money laundering (ii) does not strictly demand declaring the \u2018source\u2019 of the monies brought into the country (iii) dilutes oversight by Parliament and unduly empowers the minister responsible for the \u2018Central Bank\u2019.<\/p>\n

3) It beggars belief that CBSL has the AUDACITY to cite this DANGEROUS ACT to justify its INACTION on Sri Lankans named in the \u2018Panama Papers\u2019<\/b>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe time period prescribed by the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 to conclude investigations under ECA expired on 19.05.2018 as stipulated in the Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017. These investigations also lapsed on that date.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

4) A name included in the \u2018Panama Papers\u2019<\/b> is an erstwhile colleague of\u00a0 <\/span>CBSL Governor, Indrajit Coomaraswamy on the Director Board of JKH, arguably the country\u2019s most diversified conglomerate with top tier market capitalization.<\/p>\n

5) On the subject of PEPs<\/b> (Politically Exposed Persons)\u00a0\u00a0where else in the world<\/b>\u00a0would (i) a Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank soon after retirement be appointed a Director of a leading bank?(ii) a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court soon after retirement be appointed\u00a0\u00a0a Director of a leading bank? (iii) a highly connected PEP previously Chairman of a leading bank be currently Chairman of a COMPETITOR bank?<\/p>\n

6) In the context of the CBSL being the issuing agency for Treasury Bonds, a key recommendation of the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the egregious Treasury Bond scam<\/b> was the FORENSIC AUDIT to be carried out by the CBSL.\u00a0 <\/span>The report was available in the public domain from 3 January 2018<\/b>. It is now 15 months since then and let alone carrying out the forensic audit, the CBSL does not appear to have even selected the audit firm to carry out this task.<\/p>\n

7) IMPUNITY is so endemic in Sri Lanka that even crucial issues incidental to the bond scam related to possible money laundering<\/b> thrown up by witnesses at the Presidential Commission\u00a0 <\/span>which include possible tax evasion and PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons) being directors of banks do not appear to be even on the CBSL radar.<\/p>\n

8) We await to see whether the CBSL in its forensic audit will even CONSIDER addressing the alleged (i) \u201cmillions\u201d <\/i>encashed \u201cseveral times\u201d<\/i> being left on \u201cPTL CEO Kasun Palisena\u2019s chair\u201d <\/i>(ii) \u201ccash amounting to Rs.145 million\u201d <\/i>being \u201cdumped\u201d <\/i>without being \u201csupported by any documentation\u201d <\/i>in the \u201cChairman\u2019s safe\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

9) Just a few weeks back the Director General of Customs Department, Ms. P.S.M. Charles\u00a0was removed from office under controversial circumstances connected with the alleged \u201cprobes on 143 suspicious containers\u201d <\/i><\/b>allegedly linked to some influential officials in the Ministry of Finance under which falls the Customs Department. Due to the agitation of Customs \u2018unions\u2019 Ms. Charles was reinstated as Director General.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

EAP Group Sale<\/b><\/p>\n

The CBSL has failed to disclose whether its claimed \u2018DUE DILIGENCE\u2019 in regard to the sale of EAP Group companies has considered the DAMNING allegations in the news report in \u2018The Sunday Times\u2019<\/a> of 3 June 2018 \u201cPurchase of Edirisinghe Group: Investors in a labyrinth of multiple companies\u201d<\/i><\/b>?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In particular CBSL has AVOIDED confirming whether there is any truth to the terrible allegation<\/b>:<\/p>\n

\u201cBut punitive action is being blocked by the Ministry of Finance which has taken from the Customs Department a file containing evidence against the suspects\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

If the CBSL considers the report spurious, why has \u2018The Sunday Times\u2019 not been taken to task?<\/p>\n

Mano Tittawella until recently Chairman, EAP Group is currently Senior Adviser to the Minister of Finance under which falls the CBSL.<\/p>\n

Hub for Illicit Drugs?<\/b><\/p>\n

Frequent detections of large hauls of heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs which most likely are the tip of the iceberg would suggest that Sri Lanka has become a regional hub<\/b> for the trade in illicit drugs in the Asian region. Such an occurrence is only possible under ENABLING conditions which include lax laws which facilitate money laundering\/smuggling and the nexus between sections of the political leadership and bureaucracy with key players in the trade in illicit drugs. Does not the Reuters report<\/a> \u201cSri Lanka is becoming a hub for cocaine as it is a risk-free\u00a0location with less legal restrictions\u201d <\/i><\/b>CONFIRM this position?<\/p>\n

The link between money laundering, illicit drugs and funding of terrorism does not require elaboration. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n

In the context of little respect for the rule of law and regulatory agencies such as CBSL for the most part being indifferent, is there no danger that the proposed \u2018Colombo International Financial City\u2019<\/b> with high end CASINOS also reportedly being part of the mix, may enhance <\/b>Sri Lanka\u2019s image as a premier hub for money laundering in the Asian region?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Discerning visitors to Sri Lanka have commented on the MISMATCH on the one hand of a country with a weak economy and infrastructure bending over backwards even for questionable FDIs and financial assistance and on the other the swanky high-rise apartments, fancy restaurants and luxury department stores dotting the city of Colombo with high-end vehicles which would do even a first world country in Europe proud.<\/p>\n

This article is written in the best interest of Sri Lanka<\/b> in the expectation that at least \u2018outside\u2019 pressure will compel <\/b>Sri Lanka\u2019s political leaders, public officials and MEDIA to meaningfully address the growing SCOURGE<\/b> of money laundering, illicit drugs and corruption particularly in high places which appears to position Sri Lanka as a REGIONAL HUB <\/b>for these evils. What is particularly disconcerting is the IMPUNITY<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For how long more will Sri Lanka continue to be bailed out by multilateral lending agencies and geo-political interests of China, India and US and still have even a fa\u00e7ade of sovereignty?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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