Lankan files in Panama Papers won’t be spared: Ravi K

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and  Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara at the Sugathadasa Stadium 

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake states that investigations will be carried out against all the Sri Lankans whose names were revealed in the Panama Papers. The Department of  Inland Revenue  and the Exchange Control Department  of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka are supposed to investigate in this regard as expressed by the minister.

Finance Minister  Ravi Karunanayake stated this answering on matters raised by the media during the observation visit at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo. The minister observed the Sugathadasa stadium premises, running track, indoor stadium and   several other places of the stadium. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara also joined on this occasion. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake agreed to allocate Rs. 475 million to refurbish the Sugathadasa Stadium that has not been properly maintained for the past 15 years.

The minister expressed his views to the media following the observation visit,

“Today we came here to look into the matter forwarded by the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. This  Sugathadasa Stadium, constructed by the late President R. Premadasa with the aim of supporting emerging   sportspersons to the country, has not been properly maintained and sportspersons will be disabled if they proceed their training in this situation. We should spend on the sportspersons; though the past regime spent millions to construct sports grounds in Hambantota they never paid attention to maintain this stadium. Actions will be taken to renovate Sugathadasa Stadium under the directives of the Hon. Prime Minister and His Excellency President”

The Minister further said answering the matters raised by the media,

“Investigations will be carried out against all the Sri Lankans whose names were revealed in the Panama papers  and any file in this regard will not be allowed to be concealed.I kindly requested to return the capital out flow to the country as our money is required for the development of our country. There is no need to invest our money in developing foreign countries other than Sri Lanka. Now the opportunity has been given to correct these faults “

The minister further expressed his views regarding the media information published on the recent amendment of VAT,

“Different media reports the amendment of VAT in different ways. This 4% VAT increase is to earn the revenue to cover the corruption that took place during the past Rajapkse regime. This amendment of VAT is only a short-term procedure to earn public revenue”

The minister expressed his views relevant to the information that published in reports as the approval of the Parliament has not been obtained for this VAT amendment

“There is no problem in the process of VAT amendment. In such process the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers is obtained as the first step  and after that proposal is presented to the Parliament to passed by”. The minister further said .

Director General of Sports, K.D.S. Ruwanchandra and  Chairman National Sports Development Authority, Brigadier Samantha Jayasundara also participated at this occasion.