Mahinda refutes coup and corruption allegations, defends infrastructure costs

• Says A/C bathroom at Temple Trees with wide screen built for Commonwealth meeting
• Denies allegations against Shiranthi on gold scam

Defeated President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday issued a two-page denial of allegations that his Government and members of his family had been involved in corruption or plotting a coup, and strongly defended Chinese development projects undertaken during his tenure In a letter addressed to religious leaders and the people of the country, President Rajapaksa said there was a “media blitz” to vilify him and mislead the public, rather than the following of established procedures to address allegations of wrongdoing. “I wish to state my position on these matters so that the people will not be misled by this unprecedented campaign of vilification by interested parties. President Rajapaksa said the accusation that he sought the Attorney General’s advice on how to remain in power illegally, was “an absurdity.” “It is with deep regret that I state that I am not being allowed to spend my days in peace even after leaving office,” the former President said in his statement. The air-conditioned with a TV and bathroom at Temple Trees had been refurbished for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2013, in accordance with what the ex-President said were “international specifications.” “Images of the interior of Temple Trees have been disseminated with the insinuation that I and my family had led an extravagant lifestyle at state expense. Attention was focused on an air conditioned rest room with TV and attached bathroom,” he said in his statement. “An exhibition and banquet for visiting heads of state were held there. Over the past decade all foreign dignitaries visiting Sri Lanka have been received at Temple Trees and the quality of the facilities available had to suit the purpose,” he explained in the statement. The former leader said there was even an accusation that his wife had been involved in a scam trying to sell 100 kilos of gold belonging to no less an institution than the Treasury. “Since the police have already responded to that ridiculous allegation, I do not wish to say anything further on that matter other than to point out that gold belonging to the treasury cannot be sold in that manner even by the Secretary to the Treasury leave alone the First Lady!” the statement said. “Vehicles that even remotely resemble sports cars are being taken by the police from the houses of their owners in their search for Lamborghinis belonging to my sons. But no Lamborghinis were found. My property in Weeraketiya was raided in search of a seaplane,” the President said, claiming he was being harassed. He said two containers of personal belongings of his family were examined by the police on suspicion of being items “stolen” from Temple Trees. “These items were stored in containers because I had no place to go to in Colombo after vacating my official residence. They will remain in the containers until I receive the official residence due to a former president,” his statement said. The former President whose administration is facing major corruption charges about its development projects claimed all the projects had been evaluated by Technical Evaluation Committees made up of “well qualified and reputed engineers.” “The project is then evaluated by a Cabinet-appointed tender board which is made up of the most senior civil servants in the country. Every agreement signed with a foreign lending agency is vetted by the Attorney General and has to receive final approval from the Cabinet,” he claimed. “If the cost of a project is to be artificially inflated as some have alleged, there will have to be collusion between all the relevant bodies of the Government, the international project consultants who design and supervise the project from start to finish, the contractor and the lending agency - a process involving scores of individuals and therefore virtually impossible,” the statement said. President Rajapaksa said it was the Chinese-funded projects that have been singled out for criticism. “China is a country that has helped all Sri Lankan governments for over six decades. Like all international lending organisations the China Exim Bank also has procedures in place to ensure the integrity of their transactions. I wish to suggest to those concerned that this maligning of a friendly country that has helped us so generously over many decades should stop,” he charged.