Activists file complaint against Namal Rajapaksa’s asset declaration

Wednesday, 4 September 2024 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Namal Rajapaksa

Says assets listed by Namal Rajapaksa in his Presidential candidacy forms are inconsistent and information provided is inaccurate
Refuses to accept details provided in Rajapaksa’s declaration and calls for further scrutiny of his assets

A group of civil society activists, led by activist Darshana Thanthrige, lodged a complaint with the Illegal Assets Investigation Division against Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) Presidential candidate, Namal Rajapaksa, on Monday.

The complaint alleges discrepancies in Rajapaksa’s asset declarations. The activists claim that certain assets listed by Rajapaksa in his Presidential candidacy forms are inconsistent and the information provided is inaccurate.

Thanthrige, the convener of the civil society movement, said the issues in Rajapaksa’s asset declarations are unacceptable and warrant further scrutiny. The group has also highlighted the absence of a verification system for asset details submitted by Presidential candidates, raising concerns about the integrity of the declarations.

Rajapaksa’s asset declarations revealed an intricate financial situation. Rajapaksa reported a monthly income of a meagre Rs. 54,285 from his Parliamentary duties, with additional allowances of a mere Rs. 400,000.

His financial disclosures also revealed a Rs. 240 million substantial personal loan granted by him in 2017/2018, which accrues Rs. 3 million annually in interest, and a Rs. 10 million loan from 2020. His assets also featured gold, valued at around Rs. 8.5 million, and gems, worth approximately Rs. 14.2 million. His property portfolio included three lands, one gifted by his parents, as well as a collection of luxury vehicles received as wedding gifts.

The declaration noted that Rajapaksa also holds a significant amount of unpaid debt, including Rs. 8 million from a personal loan taken in 2011, Rs. 47.45 million from Hello Corp, and Rs. 14.91 million from Link Asia Holdings. His credit card debt, held jointly with his wife, amounts to Rs. 8.53 million. In total, he has five loans with a combined outstanding balance of Rs. 81.79 million.

Last week, Thanthrige also filed a separate complaint against National People’s Power (NPP) Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The complaint concerns Dissanayake’s possession of a house in the Madiwela MP Housing Scheme. Thanthrige alleges that Dissanayake already owns a residential property in Kadawatha, which is less than 25 km from the Parliament, violating the scheme’s regulations.

The regulations state that MPs receiving a house from the Madiwela Housing Scheme should not possess another residential property within a 25 km radius of Parliament. The Kadawatha property, registered under Dissanayake’s wife’s name, reportedly falls within this restricted area, the activist claimed. Thanthrige is calling for a partial inquiry into the matter, seeking clarification on the eligibility and compliance of Dissanayake’s housing arrangements.