UNP says won’t allow corrupt to flee country after Maithri victory

Thursday, 18 December 2014 00:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The UNP yesterday warned that corrupt politicians and their crony investors and businessmen would not be allowed to flee the country following a predicted victory by common opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

UNP MPs Eran Wickramaratne (left) and Harsha de Silva at the media briefing yesterday - Pic by Pradeep Pathirana At a press conference convened by the UNP, MPs Eran Wickramaratne and Harsha de Silva alleged, without providing any names, that corrupt investors and businessmen linked to the UPFA Government have siphoned ill-gained funds to safe havens in places such as St. Kitts and Nevis, Dubai and the Seychelles. Some of these funds have been reinvested in bonds issued at a higher cost for example from NSB, De Silva alleged. The UNP charged that some of these corrupt persons have already obtained permanent residency in some of these safe havens to avoid being subjected to legal action under a national unity government. Claiming the promised post-war development has not meaningfully taken place, MP De Silva also questioned what happened to the much-anticipated ancillary industries around the Hambantota port and airports.