Does NPP tone down Uganda money allegation?

Colombo, October 15 (Daily Mirror) - National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Nilanthi Kottahachchi who made allegations about stolen assets stashed in Uganda by the previous regime said she made such remarks in a broader context on the need to recover ill-gotten wealth concealed in Uganda and elsewhere in the country.

Making her remarks to the press, she said she takes full responsibility for what she said.

“Some of the remarks I made in recent times triggered slander against me. I have been nicknamed Uganda Kumari or Uganda Menike. In the lead-up to the Presidential Election, in my speeches, I focused on the need for restoration of law and order, justice and what the National People’s Power (NPP) and its candidate for presidency comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayake can do for it. In our wholesome plan for it, we pledged to establish an institution for asset recovery. In the developed world, there are such institutions established for the implementation of such laws. That is to recover money stashed elsewhere by abusing public money and investing it outside the country. I asked about the need to bring back money stashed in Uganda as part of this whole speech. When I made such remarks, I was fully aware that De La Rue Company involved in security printing has printed a stock of currency notes to be sent to Uganda. It triggered a talking point in society at that time. Yet it is a repatriation of notes printed according to an order, I understand.

Yet we are aware that the previous government has invested in Uganda and other parts of the world. There are instances where back money has been laundered.

We intend to enact laws for the recovery of such stolen money during the time of our government. Be it NPP government or any government, it is the legitimate duty to deal with abuses of public money. I take full responsibility for what I said. Be it in Uganda or anywhere, we will take responsibility to deal with cases involved,” she said.

Asked about former MP Namal Rajapaksas allegation, she said Mr. Rajapaksa has every democratic right to challenge what I said.

“We are ready to respond to it at the appropriate time in an appropriate manner,” she said.