Embilipitiya Paper Corporation leased out

25 November 2011 07:41 pm

The Embilipitiya Paper Corporation has been leased out to a sole trader registered by a relative of a certain VIP, but not to a company as reported earlier, the UNP charged in Parliament yesterday.

Earlier, it was reported that the corporation was leased out to Perth Engineering Company for a period of 30 years.

“This, according to reliable information I have received, is not a company but a sole trader registered by a relative of a VIP who was in Perth till 2006,” UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said.

He said that this could be another money laundering operation for the relatives concerned.

Commenting on the expropriation bill, Mr. Samaraweera said that a similar bill was introduced by Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe four years ago to take over farms that belonged to whites in that country, and distribute them amongst blacks.

“But, some of these farms ended up being taken over by Mugabe and his family,” he said.

Government Ministers such as Dinesh Gunawardane, Susil Premajayantha and MP Namal Rajapaksa were present in the House when these allegations were made. However, they did not deny these allegations. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)