2 October 2023 07:44 pm Views - 6562
The controversial unpaid Rs. 2.6 million electricity bill of MP Namal Rajapaksa, which was being circulated on social media under the letterhead of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), was settled today by State Minister for Water Supply Sanath Nishantha.
The State Minister in a statement said that he settled the bill out of respect to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who had ended the war, and because of being a friend who supported him in politics and in business.
"Today I paid the total electricity bill of Rs. 2,682,246.57 to the Electricity Board on behalf of MP Namal Rajapaksa.
"I came to meet the CEB chairman and discussed this controversial unpaid electricity bill for MP Namal Rajapaksa's wedding. When I talked to MP Namal Rajapaksa, he said that he or his father had not requested additional electricity supply for his wedding. But there was a rumor spreading about this electricity bill," State Minister Sanath Nishantha said.
"Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader who ended the war and engaged in massive developments in the country. I cannot let him hear blame from anyone. Therefore, I told him that I will settle the bill if it is due," he said.
Several Parliamentarians, Ministers and former President Maithripala Sirisena participated in MP Namal Rajapaksa's wedding. Therefore, the security forces had requested safety lights for their safety. But the bill for the facility was not settled by the President, the security unit, or any other institution. It was a verbal request, and the CEB had provided the electricity facility.
"But after the wedding and birth of the second child, the controversial unpaid bill started to circulate on social media. Therefore, I consider that it is the responsibility of anyone to settle the bill for them," the State Minister said.
"Therefore, I decided to settle the bill from the account of my own company, 'Royalco Aqua Culture (Pvt) Ltd'.
Namal Rajapaksa did not know that I have settled the bill, but I will tell him this evening," State Minister Sanath Nishantha said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)