Business within legal framework - Sajin de Vass Gunawardene

Sandasen Marasinghe

Southern Provincial Councilor Sajin de Vass Gunawardene denying categorically all the allegations made against him by the opposition, questioned as to where was the democracy that the opposition was referring to if he could not conduct businesses within the existing legal framework in the country.

Gunawardene addressing a media conference held at the Soverign Hotel further threw an open challenge to the opposition to go before the Bribery Commission or before Court or come for an open debate on the charge that he had misused money.

In reference to statements made by presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, Mangala Samaraweera, Ravi Karunanayake and Somawansa Amarasinghe, Vass Gunawardene stated that he was always prepared to declare his assets.

He said that he commenced to engage in business at an early age as early as 20 years and all of them were legal businesses. When one started businesses some improved while others went bankrupt.

He also said that the UNP and the JVP always attempted to conduct their election campaigns by slinging mud at others and he described such charges as baseless. The Opposition talks of the same baseless matters over and over again during polls campaigns without taking any proper measures in that regard.

Referring to the allegations made against “Mihin Lanka” Gunawardene said that the Treasury provided only Rs 250 million although the required amount was Rs 3 billion. It also received another Rs 250 million on bank overdraft.

The Mihin Lanka earned Rs 2,600 million within 8 months of which 60 percent was foreign exchange. It has earned a position in the budget air ways in the world today.