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VAC charges MS, RW of nepotism

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19 April 2016 04:45 pm - 9     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother, who is the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), had awarded the insurance deal of Mobitel to a company owned by someone close to him causing Rs. 3 billion loss to the Government, the Voice Against Corruption (VAC) charged today.

VAC Convener and JVP Provincial Councillor Wasantha Samarasinghe claimed the SLT Chairman was receiving a monthly allowance of Rs. 750,000 as his house rent.

He said that he had also increased allowances receiving from the companies to Rs. 1 million from previous Rs. 500,000.

“This is the highest in the history of allowances received by an SLT Chairman. Also, the advertising of the company had been awarded to an advertising firm owned by President Sirisena’s son-in-law.

“Both the President and the Prime Minister are promoting nepotism instead of putting an end to it as pledged during the election,” he charged.

“Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed his friend Arjuna Mahendran as the Central Bank Governor and today he is in the centre of a heap of allegations,” he said.

He said nepotism was one among many allegations levelled against former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and had even cost him his Presidency.

“Today, President Sirisena and Prime Minister are following the same footsteps,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Samarasinghe said large scale corruption was taking place at the LTL Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a company owned by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), similar to the Avant Garde Maritime Security Service.

“The LTL Holdings also administered by retired CEB officials -similar to Avant Garde operations handled by retired naval officers. This is the company, which had funded previous Power and Energy Ministers during their elections. All Power and Energy Ministers are responsible for the corrupt deals, which had taken place at the LTL,” he said.

He said the CEB owned up to 63 percent of shares of the LTL and when the company was to be brought before the Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) to probe corrupt deals, the officials tried to reduce the shares to 49 percent.

“When the percentage of shares owned by the State in a company is less than 49%, that company can get away with facing the COPE. This is what the LTL officials are trying to do. However, this had not yet been successful due to the objections of the engineers,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

 

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  Comments - 9

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  • Voter Tuesday, 19 April 2016 04:41 PM

    People are waiting anxiously for the response from MS and RW to these serious allegations. via DM Android App

    annoyed Tuesday, 19 April 2016 05:02 PM

    Here comes a blow from watchdog. Public would expect President and PM to voice thier standing on this.

    anja Tuesday, 19 April 2016 05:25 PM

    Ultimately mouth has opened. Better to open against UNP also via DM Android App

    Raj Tuesday, 19 April 2016 05:29 PM

    VAC should not bring Mr Kumarasinghe into this issue. His expertise in technologically complicated telecom industry is vital for success of SLT. And President himself, once came to power realised that his brother is the only Gem to lead the biggest technology company in Sri Lanka. Had he been given an opportunity to lead Verizon / Vodafone he would have earned much more money than what he was getting here!!

    SS Tuesday, 19 April 2016 05:36 PM

    THIS IS CHARLY CHAPLIN THE 2ND.HE FINDS SOMETHING WRONG EVERYWHERE.HE IS THE MOST SUITED TO BE OUR PRESIDENT.AHEAD OF ANITA KUMARA. via DM Android App

    Raji Tuesday, 19 April 2016 08:41 PM

    Please ask him to take up those positions at Vodafone. That will certainly make SLT a better company

    nimaya Wednesday, 20 April 2016 08:57 AM

    Forget the technology..Vodafone working language is Sinhala ???

    Nelum pushpasiri Wednesday, 20 April 2016 03:20 PM

    Correct...now a days all a fullest politics jokers.No one can ever cheating the people.

    Veda-mama Wednesday, 20 April 2016 04:57 PM

    YES..YES...WE ARE ALL WAITING...MS and RW...What have you got to say?? DID YOU THROW US FROM PAN TO THE FIRE??


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