Keheliya, Lalith and PB grilled over ITN’s Rs. 200 m loss

• Previous Government owes ITN Rs. 115 million for propaganda of ex-President Rajapaksa
• ITN returning Rs. 89 million to President Maithripala Sirisena as it had not carried his advertisements during the Presidential Election campaign

By Shanika Sriyananda

Former Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was questioned by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) yesterday over the financial irregularities worth of over Rs. 200 million present at the State-run Independent Television Network (ITN). Former President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and former Treasury Secretary P. B. Jayasundera were also questioned by the PRECIFAC over the same allegation. The previous Government had not settled a bill of Rs. 115 million it owed ITN for advertisements used in the campaign of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa during the 2015 Presidential Election. 

Each VIP was questioned for nearly two hours by police investigators of the PRECIFAC regarding the due payments of Rs. 115 to ITN.

Secretary to the Commission Lacille de Silva said they were asked to provide statements following the receipt of previous evidence given by a number of people on alleged malpractices that had taken place at ITN during the 2015 Presidential Election. 

“There is an unsettled bill of Rs. 115 million to the ITN by the previous Government and there is another complaint regarding the return of Rs. 89 million to President Maithripala Sirisena as ITN had not carried his advertisements during the Presidential Election campaign. Altogether there is a loss of Rs. 200 million for ITN,” he said.

The PRECIFAC questioned the then ITN Chairman Anura Siriwardena over the same allegation recently.

The PRECIFAC, which is investigating serious acts of fraud, corruption and abuse of power, state resources and privileges, was appointed by President Sirisena and has the power to summon any person regardless of their political affiliation.

Gota summoned to the Presidential Commission again

General Manager of Rakna Lanka Major General (Rtd.) Gamini Jayasundara to write letter clarifying why he gave false evidence 

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to give evidence once again before the PRECIFAC over allegations of deploying employees of government-owned security provider Rakna Araksha Lanka Ltd. (RALL) to aid the election campaign of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa during the 2015 Presidential Elections.

He will testify before the PRECIFAC Commissioners - High Court Judges Padman Surasena, Amendra Seneviratna, Vikum Kaluarachchi, Gihan Kulatunga and former Auditor General B.A. Premathilake at the third public hearing which is scheduled to be held today and tomorrow at the BMICH.

According to PRECIFAC Secretary de Silva, allegations against RALL include the deployment of over 500 RALL employees at the presidential campaign in 2015 in support of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the misuse of Rs. 6 million for the deployment of RALL security personnel and giving temporary employment for 150 members attached to the Civil Defence Force personnel to carry out duties of those who were deployed for the election campaign. 

The present Chairman of RALL, Victor Samaraweera, was questioned by police investigators earlier this week.

Among nine others who will be questioned at the public hearing today are Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando, Maj. Gen. K.B. Egodawela, Maj. Gen. M.R.W. Soyza, Organisers of the SLFP, former Provincial Council Minister Upali Kodikara, former Minister Duminda Silva, former Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga and Kotte Mayor Janaka Ratnayaka. 

De Silva said that the General Manager of RALL Major General (Rtd.) Gamini Jayasundara, who gave false evidence at the second public hearing of the PRECIFAC, will submit a written statement to the Commission on ‘Why the Commission should not take action against him for giving false evidence before the PRECIFAC’.

Maj. General Jayasundara accepted that he gave false evidence at the public hearing mainly to protect the former Secretary, whom he respects immensely. 

But the PRECIFAC Commissioners claimed that his false evidence was a disgrace to the commission and noted that legal action would be taken against him after he submitted the written explanation at the public hearing today.

“Once we received the letter, the commission will decide what to do,” de Silva said.