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Alleged Rubber Corp. fraud : AG's advice sought on contradictory statements

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the alleged massive fraud at the Sri Lanka Rubber Manufacturing and Export Corporation has sought the advice of Attorney General K. C. Kamalasabeyson PC, over contradictory statements made by former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, former chairman of the Corporation Sarath Wickremasinghe and former chairman of the Thuru Saviya Fund, Rohana Illangaratne.

Wickremanayake and Wickremasinghe in their statements to the CID had mentioned the name of Rohana Illangaratne. But Illangarante in an e-mail from Canada stated that Thuru Saviya Fund never had any dealings with the Rubber Manufacturing and Export Corporation and also no funds have ever been received from the corporation.

On Monday, Illangaratne called the CID from Canada and told them that he was willing to make a statement.

CID DIG Lionel Gunatilleke is making arrangements to obtain a statement from Illangaratne. CID investigation revealed that Rs.30 million had been given to Thuru Saviya on several vouchers. But the CID is unable to trace persons who received money through vouchers as the names in them were fictitious. The CID earlier recorded a lengthy statement from Wickremanayake at his office in Parliament in connection with the alleged fraud.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) earlier produced three suspects before Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Priyantha Fernando. Factory manager Upul Nanda Munasinghe, Corporation accountant V.G. Delduwa and former Chairman Sarath Wickremasinghe were granted bail later. The Treasury had released Rs.900.34 millionby to the Rubber Manufacturing and Export Corporation during the last regime.

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