Probe on payments to US congressmen

4 March 2015 10:37 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In the wake of a disclosure that the former Foreign Affairs Ministry had paid US$ 354,000 to a US company for various activities including payments being made to US congressmen, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe told Parliament that an investigation would be conducted on this matter.

He said the Sri Lankan Government would inform the US Government because it would be a serious violation of that country's laws if the congressmen had accepted these monies.

"US congressmen cannot even dine with a guest without informing the authorities and if the congressmen had accepted the funds it is a serious violation," Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

The disclosure was made by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister AjithPerera in response to a question asked by JanathaVimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the House this morning.

Mr. Perera said it was not clear whether the funds were paid to the congressmen or whether the ministry handed over the funds to the PR Company though records show the funds were paid.

Mr. Dissanayake asked whether the then government had attempted to bribe the congressmen.

It was revealed that the Rajapaksa Government has paid US$840,000 to Patton Boggs Ltd and US$45,000 to Cranford Johnson Robinson PR, US$ 49,106 to Steve Hedges and US$354,000 to Majority Group LLC from 2010 to 2012. (Yohan Perera and Kelum Bandara)

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Comments - 9

dharma Wednesday, 04 March 2015 09:45 PM

professor mr G.L.Peries the man responsibility to paid the money to defend the government killed the civilian with the help of india ms Sonia, and mr singh formar prime minister lap pap of ms Sonia,minister must paid

Muktha Wednesday, 04 March 2015 10:45 PM

Our enemy is going to punish all those who defended SL in the past.

Jesse Thursday, 05 March 2015 12:26 AM

Our Mission in the US paying for private PR companies in the US started after you became the PM in 2002. You have amnesia Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe. It was your political appointment of Devinda Subasinghe as Ambassador that started the culture of paying thousands of dollars each month to prepare letters and press briefings. Now you act as this is something new and incredibly wrong and I am sure Sri Lankan public who knows nothing about world affairs will drink this cool-aid and blame Rajapakses. Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe may not be aware how almost all the congressmen and senators in the US is on some companies payroll. They are called lobbyists. I am sure you know.

Cheers Thursday, 05 March 2015 12:35 AM

Only talk no action and all the allegations so far by you and your golayas have become unsuccessful and you are a utter failure

ALAHAPPERUMA Thursday, 05 March 2015 03:17 AM

UNP Assistant leader Ravi Karunanayake and Raj Rajaratnam in Spotlight

Andy Thursday, 05 March 2015 03:24 AM

Please investigate money spent on a PR Company in Sydney by the consul general

Senator Thursday, 05 March 2015 06:47 PM

Are you going to talk or are you really going to get down to some hard work to improve the country?

Senator Thursday, 05 March 2015 06:58 PM

It is the UNP which started this,investigate your dealings too.

thomas ranger Friday, 06 March 2015 09:20 AM

Everybody who is somebody in the present Government are making revelations about this and that fraud, corruption, ect, ect but the follow up action to punish the wrong doers is just like a train that is running late and this includes you, Mr. Prime Minister. Pull up your socks and get on the fast track to bring these rogues to book.

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Probe on payments to US congressmen

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