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Thursday, 8 August 2013 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
De Silva, who has been a vocal critic of the James Packer casino development project on D.R. Wijewardane Mawatha Colombo, told the House he had been intimidated recently at a television station by those he called “henchmen of the casino king who had vested interests”. “This incident confirmed the dangers and threats hanging over the lives of those who expose controversial deals between the Government and casino king James Packer,” de Silva charged.
He said that the intimidation had taken place while he was waiting for a political debate to begin at a certain television station.
“A goon touched me to ask me what my next move was on the casino expose,” he explained.
Raising concerns about his security, De Silva said that James Packer should be held responsible if any harm came to him.
Last Monday, two of James Packer’s senior staffers – Crown Chief Executive Rowen Craigie and Chief Financial Officer Ken Barton – were here inspecting the proposed site at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha and to continue further discussions with Government officials including Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Sarath Amunugama about the project, according to a report in the Financial Review Australia.
Requesting the Government for a clarification, the UNP Legislator said that the officials had negotiated for a favourable tax and regulatory treatment for Crown Ltd.’s proposed casino during their brief stay in Colombo.
“However, having returned to Australia singing the praises of the island nation, these two have declined to give details of negotiations to build the casino complex,” he revealed.
He charged that because of his recent expose of the Government’s dubious land deals with Chelina NEB Lanka Ltd., President Mahinda Rajapaksa had decided to revoke the Cabinet decision taken to exclusively award the highly valuable 29 acre property in Maradana to a single investor in a 99-year lease.
“We at the Opposition have fought for the general public. Results of our struggle are visible from the change in Government plans at the last moment,” he added, striking a victorious note.
In response, Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena agreed to answer Dr. de Silva’s queries after tabling the casino bill.
“Packer might be a billionaire and have very powerful friends in town but he can’t scare me or stop me from fighting against his tax free project to pollute our society,” De Silva told the Daily FT.
