'CJ turned deaf ear to GK depositors'

CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE

Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayaka turned a deaf ear to Golden Key depositors and edged them to a disposition of discontent, Ceylinco Group's Golden Key depositor Saman Shantha, who staged a protest demanding justice for Golden Credit depositors by climbing a tree outside the Superior Court Complex told the Daily News yesterday.

Shantha, 50, started his tree-top protest in Hulftsdorp at 10 am.

Perched on a tree, Shantha aired his grievances demanding the government to take the Golden Key depositors' issue to their hands.

He said he will not come down until President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa or Defecne Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa assures him that the government will take measures to resolve their problem. He descended from the tree at 1.30pm with the intervention of Deputy Inspector General of Police Anura Senanayaka who visited him.

Shantha said: "DIG Senanayaka said the President agreed to find an answer to our problem. He assured the government will take up their issue.

"Ceylinco chairman Lalith Kotelawala played out Rs 60 billion from Golden Key depositors. Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayaka took away our only chance to obtain at least 45 percent of that money from Golden Key and its related companies."

Dr Bandaranayaka disregarded a comprehensive repayment plan ordered by Justice Shirani Thilakawardena when she took over the case to be heard under her, he said.

"Had she allowed this order by Justice Thilakawardhana after she had taken over the case, petitioners of the Golden Key Fundamental Rights case would have obtained at least 20 percent of our money by now," he said.

"I am a resident of Rambukkana Keriwandeniya. I started my first business venture with Rs 1,000 borrowed from a friend. Thereafter, I made Rs 30.5 million after working hard which I deposited with Golden Key," Shantha said.

"We have been going to court seeking justice for the last three and half years. Our case was heard by several judges. Our depositors have obtained nothing from the time the Chief Justice took over the case," he said.

"She faces an impeachment trial as a result of her action. We have suffered enough and we do not want to be stranded anymore than we already have suffered just on account of her impeachment trial," he said.

"It is time the government takes action to find a solution to the G K depositors' problem," Shantha said.