Chamara Gunasekera who received US$250 mn is a close associate of MP Nalaka Godahewa: Wijeyadasa

9 May 2023 04:11 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 18 Bookmark

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Coming up with more staggering disclosures on the ill-fated X-PRESS Peral ship, Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapakshe told Parliament today that Chamara Gunasekera who had received US$ 250 million to delay the prosecution is a close associate of MP Nalaka Godahewa who was the minister during that time.

“Chamara Gunasekera is a fake name, the real name of this person is Manjusiri Nissanka and is an associate of MP Godahewa,” the Minister said.

MP Ajith Mannaperuma who is the chairman of the relevant consultative committee informed me that some officers attached to the Attorney General’s Department had demanded US$250 million as a bribe to prevent Sri Lanka from securing damages for the tragedy. However the MP has asked for a copy of the case. Asking for a document after accusing the Attorny General’s department is also an issue. The lawyers retained by the accused are going everywhere in Sri Lanka to collect information on the case. They were present at the consultative committee meeting and therefore I prevented those who were present from raising questions on the case,” he added.

The Minister who justified the decision to file a case in Singapore said it was done as the operating company of the ship is being registered in Singapore while the charter party company is also registered in the same country. “The hearing date was fixed for next month. The Singaporean Courts have advanced the date and hearing was held yesterday. This comes as a result of the coverage given to the issue by the local media.,” he said.

The Minister claimed that the debate on XPRESS Peral fixed for today is against the standing orders. “House cannot debate on a matter on which a court case is pending. Debating on this might have a negative effect on the case which is pending. Therefore I would like to request the party leaders to rethink having the debate today,” he stressed.

MP Kumarasiri Ratnayake who responded to Minister Rajapakshe said MP Godahewa has been drawn to the issue in an unfair manner. “We cannot understand why MP Godahewa is dragged into the issue as he is innocent,” he said. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)

Comments - 18

sam Tuesday, 09 May 2023 04:34 PM

Anyoone is innocent until proved

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Chamara Gunasekara Tuesday, 09 May 2023 04:37 PM

Minister of Justice in Sri Lanka should be able to request the government of the UK to investigate this fraudulent transaction. If he is not doing this, we can only assume that he is lying protected by parliamentary privileges.

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VJ Tuesday, 09 May 2023 04:37 PM

This drama has multiple episodes unfolding one after another.

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Silva Tuesday, 09 May 2023 05:08 PM

First the party which wants to spend 250 Million should be identified. Second the rogues in the Att.General Dept. should be identified. Third it should be established why someone wants to pay exactly to this Gunasekara/Nissanka, his role in this whole process and why to him when he is an associate of Godahewa as the Minister of Ports. By the way Godahewa has already a history, that also should be taken in consideration. Hope the 250Mill. can be recovered and added to the pot.

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[email protected] Tuesday, 09 May 2023 05:55 PM

All politicians are corrupt and none of them are good ...all are in the same boat

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Punchi Tuesday, 09 May 2023 06:43 PM

Absolutely impossible for any company to pay a US$250 million debt and put it through its books

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Matta Tuesday, 09 May 2023 07:05 PM

Accusing people alone will not do. Make sure that they get punished for this. Only then people will believe that system is really changing now.

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Kelven perera Tuesday, 09 May 2023 09:46 PM

Good luck srilanka.

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Rajapakse is covering up again, and blames others again Tuesday, 09 May 2023 11:45 PM

First the Minister (against) Justice Wijedasa presents a sham name. After massive publicity and being caught out, he names opposition MP as cause of the 250 million so called (but non-existent) bribe. He then claims cannot debate, like he is infallible perfect person. A ten year old might be gullible, believing Ministers are the perfect ones, with good and proper motives, but any adult who grew up here should not be so naive. Parliament is full of tricksters and frauds.

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Gb Wednesday, 10 May 2023 12:06 AM

How could all of thus gone under the carpet, there must of been higher ups benefitting or are the real recipients of money, how can such a huge case be ignores by the then president and Parliament, sounds like bull, can't trust a rajapakse, elections looming they are pointing the finger anywhere but themselves

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Jamis Wednesday, 10 May 2023 04:43 AM

It is incredible that there is a clear lead, and yet, the government is doing nothing to ask for assistance from the UK. The fact that the govt is hesitant to do this indicates that many politicians are part of this scheme to defraud the country. I am also amazed that the media is mostly silent and doesn't raise questions. Are there media barons getting a cut too?

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Edie Wednesday, 10 May 2023 05:19 AM

We need to catch this Thief from his Balls and hang him untill he confesses. This is a CRIME against the current population and the generations to come ! We have been fed with CANCEROUS seafood from the Sea of Lanka. Every person involved on this CRIME should face life in prison causing CANCER to the whole population !

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Moh Sleiman Wednesday, 10 May 2023 05:29 AM

My GOOD FREINDS keep dreaming for the main culprit to be made public, We all know who the THIEVES ARE and we still live in DENIAL,Doesnt that name RAJAPAKSHA ring the Bell?,We will never find the thieves,RANIL will to lose his power if he points his finger at the thief.SO GOOD LUCK>

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DW Wednesday, 10 May 2023 06:39 AM

US $250 is a large sum of money even for a multi billion dollar company. How would they explain this payment to its own share holders? On the other hand, if the company strongly believed that a payment of $250 would prevent them from paying US $5 billion compensation, it would go to that lengths. Has the company successfully avoided a possible fine of US $5 billion?

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Corrupt Citizen Wednesday, 10 May 2023 10:30 AM

We are heading towards the most corrupt country in the world. All Shri Lankans should be proud to be number one in the world.

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Sam Wednesday, 10 May 2023 10:58 AM

There explains Professor Nalaka's stand how lenient was it defending the the incident as only an accident.

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Anthony. R Wednesday, 10 May 2023 11:08 AM

SriLanka will be heading the most corrupted country in the world. Deal Dasa twisting and turning up things, it won't be a surprise if he is in it involved with the game very much.

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Jay Wednesday, 10 May 2023 08:34 PM

need investicate Reshad Badudin for Maggg noodles corruption as well, thats is also closed in the same manner

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