Chandrasena claims Rs. 50m from Anura Kumara
Rafik Jalaldeen
COLOMBO: Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development
Minister S.M. Chandrasena has sent a letter of demand to JVP
Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake claiming Rs. 50 million as
compensation over a corruption accusation made against him (the
Minister) relating to Mavil Aru compensation.
Addressing the media yesterday, Chandrasena stuck to his earlier
position on the Mavil Aru issue against the allegation by the JVP MP.
“I have nothing to do with the Mavil Aru compensation. I vehemently
deny the charges against me by Dissanayake,” the Minister said.
“MP Dissanayake had mentioned at a press conference on July 6 that I
am directly involved in defrauding Mavil Aru compensation amounting to
Rs.50 million,” Chandrasena said.
“I have requested the CID to carry out a full investigation into this
and submit a report. They will submit this report to court during the
hearing,” he added.
Chandrasena noted that at first, Dissanayake wanted a CID
investigation and now he wants the Parliamentary Select Committee to
probe the matter. “I have no objections to facing any inquiry as I am
innocent. If I am proven guilty, I will resign from Parliament,” the
Minister said. Insisting on his innocence, Chandrasena said he has three
bank accounts and with no funds at all.
“I have one bank account at the Anuradhapura Commercial Bank the
other at the Bank of Ceylon Parliament branch and the third - a joint
account with my wife - at the Commercial Bank. These accounts are empty
and I owe Rs. 2 million as Housing loans to these accounts,” the
Minister emphasised.
“I was elected by the poor people in Anuradhapura and I am one of
them . This is a well planned conspiracy to tarnish my image among my
people and to sling mud at the Government,” he added.
The Minister said he has sent a letter of demand through his client
Attorney-at-Law G. Wanninayake claiming Rs. 50 million as damages
against the accusation level against him over the Mavil Aru
compensation.
“If he does not respond to my letter within two weeks I will sue to
claim damages,” he said. |