Ranjan goes to FCID against MR’s Chinese campaign funds

• Challenges MR to submit affidavit refuting NY Times allegations

By Skandha Gunasekara

Social Empowerment Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday lodged a complaint at the Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding reports that the latter received campaign funding over $ 7 million from a prominent Chinese company. 

Referring to a recent New York Times article on the issue, Deputy Minister Ramanayake said that the report claims that Rajapaksa had received $ 7.6 million in a single payment for his 2015 Presidential election campaign. 

Ramanayake said that he lodged a complaint with the FCID last morning to ensure justice was meted out. 

In addition, the Deputy Minister challenged Rajapaksa to submit an affidavit refuting these charges.

“Rajapaksa has said that he would commit suicide and made all sorts of claims if it was proven that he had taken money illegally. I’m not asking him to do any of that. All I’m asking is that Rajapaksa submit an affidavit stating that he has not taken such finances from China for his election campaign.”

Similarly, the Deputy Minister refuted former Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal’s remarks on the New York Times article.

“The former Central Bank Governor has said that this is fake news. If it is fake news he too can submit an affidavit stating that he has not carried out the acts the news article accuses him of.”