MR rebuts Samaraweera’s claim of amassing US$ 18bn
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that neither he, nor his wife, sons or brothers, have secret offshore accounts or illegal overseas investments in front companies.
Responding to the claim by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera that the Rajapaksa family has concealed US$ 18 billion in secret offshore accounts, the former President said that legal advice will be sought on the statement made by the Minister.Minister Samaraweera told a news conference in Colombo last week that information has been received from foreign intelligence agencies that Rajapaksa, his wife, sons and brothers had amassed a fortune of 18 billion US dollars concealed in secret offshore accounts and front companies overseas.
Fielding MR as PM candidate among five issues discussed
A crucial discussion between former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and incumbent Mathripala Sirisena yesterday on five issues including fielding former as the SLFP Prime Ministerial candidate at the forthcoming general election ended with both sides agreeing to refer them to the SLFP Central Committee for approval.
The discussion held at the President’s office in the Parliamentary Complex with the participation of several SLFP MPs assisting both parties had taken up the issue of dissolving local government bodies prior to the general election, contesting the next general election under the UPFA banner, nomination of candidates at the general election and putting an immediate end to political interference with investigations conducted by the police Financial Crimes Investigation Division, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.
Alleged coup attempt on the night of election proving to be a mirage
The police hadn’t been able to establish a prima facie case to proceed with the investigation into an allegation that a section of the army sought to help former President Mahinda Rajapaksa remain in power in spite of his defeat at the Jan.8 presidential poll, authoritative sources told The Island However, Police Headquarters spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera told The Island that the investigation had been concluded and the findings submitted to Attorney General Yuwanjana Wanasundera Wijayathilake for further action.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recorded several statements, including that of former Army Commander the then Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake in connection with the investigation. The CID also questioned the then External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris because of him being present at Temple Trees on the presidential election night.
TNA demands ‘special arrangement’ for Northern Province
The four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Saturday insisted that it wouldn’t cooperate under any circumstance with the electoral reforms meant to reduce the number of elected representatives from the Northern and Eastern electoral districts.
Nine members are elected from the Jaffna electoral district, whereas six enter parliament from the Vanni electoral district comprising Mannar, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts. Sixteen are elected from the Eastern Province comprising the electoral districts of Trincomalee (4), Digamadulla (7) and Batticaloa (5).The TNA comprised the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), TELO, PLOTE and EPRLF.
