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BIMAL TABLES 50 CORRUPTION ,FRAUD AND CRIMINAL CASES IN PARLIAMENT STATING “NOT POLITICAL REVENGE”

‘Not political revenge’: Bimal tables 50 corruption, fraud and criminal cases in Parliament

Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake today tabled in Parliament a 10-page document containing details of 50 corruption, fraud and criminal cases involving former ministers, politicians, members of the Rajapaksa family and senior state officials, rejecting allegations that the Government was pursuing political revenge against its opponents.

Rathnayake said the cases listed were not newly initiated by the present administration but stemmed from complaints, investigations and legal proceedings dating back to the 2015–2019 period.He accused previous administrations of suppressing investigations through political influence and said the present Government had allowed investigators to carry out their duties without political interference.

The Minister said the Government was not selectively targeting opposition politicians but was pursuing cases that had remained unresolved for years.The document includes cases involving former ministers Johnston Fernando, Wimal Weerawansa, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Basil Rajapaksa, Rajitha Senaratne, Ravi Karunanayake, Prasanna Ranatunga, A.H.M. Fowzie, Bandula Gunawardana and Rohitha Bogollagama.It also lists investigations and legal proceedings involving members of the Rajapaksa family, including Namal, Yoshitha, Gotabaya, Shiranthi, Rohitha, Chamal and Shashindra Rajapaksa.

Among the major cases referred to are the Central Bank bond transactions, the Krrish deal, MiG aircraft procurement, the Divi Neguma funds case, the sil cloth distribution case and allegations involving the Carlton Sports Network.

The document also includes investigations into several high-profile criminal cases, including the Easter Sunday attacks, the killing of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda and attacks on journalists Keith Noyahr and Upali Tennakoon.

Cases involving former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, businessman Arjun Aloysius, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara and former presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga are also included.

Among the cases listed are:

Political figures and former ministers

1	Johnston Fernando	Alleged misuse of 153 Sathosa employees for political activities, reportedly causing a loss of Rs. 40 million. The document lists five High Court case references dating back to 2016.
2	Wimal Weerawansa	Allegations of acquiring Rs. 75.4 million worth of assets beyond his lawful income between 2010 and 2015. The document refers to a case filed in October 2017.
3	Mahindananda Aluthgamage	Alleged misuse of public funds involving the distribution of 14,000 carrom boards during the 2014 presidential election, reportedly causing a loss of Rs. 53.1 million.
4	Basil Rajapaksa	Allegations involving the expenditure of Rs. 2.991 billion from Divi Neguma funds to distribute roofing sheets during an election period. The document records a High Court acquittal and an appeal by the Attorney General.
5	Rajitha Senaratne	Allegations of causing financial losses to the government through the leasing of the Modara Fisheries Harbour at an undervalued rate.
6	Ravi Karunanayake	Allegations relating to the 2016 Central Bank bond transactions and the occupation of a penthouse apartment without paying rent. The document refers to Perpetual Treasuries.
7	Prasanna Ranatunga	A case involving an alleged demand for Rs. 64 million from a businessman in connection with approval to fill land in Thalahena, Negombo. The document records a two-year suspended prison sentence, a Rs. 25 million fine and an appeal.
8	Priyankara Jayaratne	Alleged misuse of Rs. 9.1 million belonging to the Civil Aviation Authority and the granting of five unlawful appointments.
9	A.H.M. Fowzie	Allegations involving the personal use of a Land Cruiser provided by the Netherlands to the Disaster Management Ministry. The document records a guilty plea and the imposition of a suspended sentence and a fine.
10	Sarana Gunawardena	Allegations involving unlawful vehicle rentals and misuse of public funds while serving as chairman of the Development Lotteries Board. The document records a conviction and sentence.

Rajapaksa family under investigation

11	Namal Rajapaksa	Allegations of money laundering involving Rs. 70 million reportedly received from India’s Krrish Group. The document refers to a Colombo High Court case filed in 2016.
12	Yoshitha Rajapaksa	Allegations concerning Rs. 234 million allegedly obtained unlawfully and used to establish the Carlton Sports Network (CSN).
13	Gotabaya Rajapaksa	Allegations concerning the use of Rs. 33.9 million belonging to the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation for the D.A. Rajapaksa memorial in Medamulana.
14	Shiranthi Rajapaksa	Investigations concerning transactions through the Siriliya Saviya Foundation and a Defender vehicle allegedly connected to the investigation into the murder of Wasim Thajudeen.
15	Rohitha Rajapaksa	Allegations involving the misuse of public funds and state resources in connection with the SupremeSAT satellite project.
16	Chamal Rajapaksa	A complaint alleging the allocation of Ports and Shipping Ministry funds to projects without approval.
17	Shashindra Rajapaksa	Allegations of unlawfully distributing several acres of state land in the Mahiyanganaya area among associates.
18	Jaliya Wickramasuriya	Allegations of misappropriating US$332,000 during the purchase of a building for Sri Lanka’s embassy in Washington.
19	Udayanga Weeratunga	Allegations of financial fraud exceeding US$7 million in connection with the procurement of MiG-27 aircraft.
20	Nirupama Rajapaksa	Allegations concerning offshore assets and international bank accounts identified through the Panama and Pandora Papers. The document describes the matter as being at the investigation stage.

Senior officials and high-profile cases

21	Lalith Weeratunga	The distribution of sil cloth using Rs. 600 million from Telecommunications Regulatory Commission funds during the 2014 presidential election period. The document refers to a conviction and subsequent appellate proceedings.
22	Anusha Palpita	Allegations concerning the unlawful use of TRC funds in the sil cloth distribution case. The document refers to appellate proceedings.
23	Pujith Jayasundara	Allegations of failing to act on prior intelligence concerning the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The document refers to an appeal before the Supreme Court.
24	Hemasiri Fernando	Allegations of serious neglect of official duties in connection with the failure to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks. The document refers to appellate proceedings.
25	Arjuna Mahendran	Allegations of improperly disclosing inside information and causing losses to the government during the February 2015 Central Bank bond auction.
26	Arjun Aloysius	Allegations concerning financial losses to the government through unlawful activities connected to the Central Bank bond transactions.
27	Kasun Palisena	Allegations of conspiracy and involvement in irregularities concerning Central Bank bond auctions.
28	Nalaka de Silva	Allegations of conspiring to assassinate former President Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
29	Jayantha Wickramaratne	Allegations involving the destruction of pages from a police information book connected to investigations into the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.
30	Anura Senanayake	Allegations of concealing evidence and falsely reporting the death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen as a road accident.

Provincial-level corruption and abuse of power

31	Chamara Sampath Dasanayake	Allegations involving irregularities amounting to Rs. 16 million in the purchase of uniform material for schools under the Uva Provincial Council.
32	S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon	Allegations of obtaining additional fuel while receiving official fuel allowances, causing losses to the government. The document records a conviction and sentence.
33	Piyasena Gamage	Allegations involving the transfer of land belonging to the Board of Investment at an undervalued price.
34	Bandula Gunawardana	Allegations of causing substantial financial losses to the government through rice imports conducted via Sathosa.
35	Mahinda Homagama	Allegations of unlawfully using Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment funds for promotional activities.
36	Rupavathy Ketheeswaran	Allegations concerning the unlawful distribution of dry rations and misuse of public funds while serving as a former district secretary in Kilinochchi.
37	Jayantha Fernando	Allegations involving the misappropriation of Rs. 15 million during the procurement of medical equipment for the Police Hospital.
38	Geetha Kumarasinghe	Legal proceedings concerning her holding parliamentary office while possessing dual citizenship. The document records a court decision that resulted in the loss of her parliamentary seat.
39	Rohitha Bogollagama	Allegations involving the misuse of Foreign Affairs Ministry funds and official authority.
40	Kumara Welgama	Allegations of causing a Rs. 3.2 million loss through an unlawful appointment to the chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Transport Board.

Murder, abduction and disappearance cases

41	Wasim Thajudeen murder	Proceedings concerning the death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen and allegations of destroying evidence connected to the killing.
42	Lasantha Wickrematunge murder	Investigations and legal proceedings concerning the killing of The Sunday Leader editor and allegations of concealing evidence.
43	Prageeth Eknaligoda disappearance	Proceedings concerning the alleged abduction and enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.
44	Lalith and Kugan disappearance	Investigations concerning the disappearance of Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan in Jaffna.
45	Keith Noyahr assault	Proceedings concerning the abduction and torture of journalist Keith Noyahr.
46	Upali Tennakoon assault	Proceedings concerning the assault and attempted killing of former Rivira editor Upali Tennakoon.
47	Ravindra Samaraweera	The source identifies a former minister in connection with allegations of irregularities involving the sale of government rice stocks to the private sector at reduced prices.
48	Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe	A complaint alleging interference with the activities of the Attorney General’s Department concerning the Avant-Garde investigation.
49	Nissanka Senadhipathi	Allegations concerning the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition through a private security company and financial losses reportedly amounting to Rs. 11.4 billion.
50	Thilan Wijesinghe	Allegations of violating anti-corruption legislation through the award of contracts for state development projects outside approved procedures.