In response to the article published in the Daily Mirror of November 25, Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has sent the following statement:

I am writing to address a matter of utmost importance  concerning a news article published in the Daily Mirror on November 25, 2023, with the headline “Alleged Smuggled Land Cruiser Seized  from Minister’s Vehicle Yard.” As the Minister of Sports and Youth  Affairs, I feel compelled to bring to your attention to the falsified  news item.   

The article falsely alleges a connection between myself and  an incident involving the seizure of a Land Cruiser from a minister’s  vehicle yard. I wish to categorically state that I have no association  with the mentioned incident, and the vehicle in question has no  connection to me or any business entity under my purview.   

It is crucial to highlight that I have been actively  involved in the auto vehicle-related business for the past 30 years,  both locally and internationally, with operations in Sri Lanka, Japan,  the United Kingdom, and several other countries. Throughout my career, I  have conducted myself and my businesses with the utmost dignity and  integrity, and there has never been a single accusation or implication  of any wrongdoing of this nature. Further, I wish to state that I have  been a parliamentarian for the last 13 years, have transparently  conducted my duties, and honoured the people’s wishes in return, for  which they have held me high.   

I believe it is imperative to inform you that this news  appears to be a targeted incident to tarnish my reputation. It is  particularly concerning as I am currently engaged in a crusade against  corruption and an international syndicate involved in match-fixing and  sports gambling organisations. Such false accusations damage my personal  and professional reputation and undermine the broader efforts to  eradicate corruption from our society.