|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 26 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Finance Minister K. N. Choksy referring the Daily News front page lead story headlined 'CID probe into alleged fraud and cover up by Choksy, Paskaralingam,' states he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Hilton Hotel on December 19, 1986 and the construction of the building was completed by then. He said he was therefore not a Member of the Board during the period when Nihal Sri Amarasekere alleges that alterations were made in the building plans and in the construction of the building. Choksy said: "Amarasekere, on the other hand, was appointed to the Board of Directors on March 15, 1983, and was a Director during the period the building was being constructed, and according to him, the fraudulent alterations were made. Why had he not taken action to prevent the same at the time he claimed it was done although he was a Director? The President appointed a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry in 1995. The Commission firstly took up for investigation Amarasekere's complaint and recorded the evidence of several witnesses ex-parte. Thereafter, the Commission served charges on myself and others. I appeared before the Commission, and replied the charges in writing, after which the Commission did not proceed with the inquiry, although the Commission continued to function for two years, and held at least four other inquiries. If the allegations against me are true, why did not the Commission proceed with the inquiry? Why was not a Police investigation commenced during the seven years of the People's Alliance Government from 1994 to 2001? Why has Amarasekere waited for 14 years after the alleged event to make a police complaint? Obviously, the present exercise is entirely politically motivated on the eve of the general election, in a futile attempt to discredit the United National Front and myself as a Minister." |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
