Bank accounts of owners of mysterious radio channel under probe!

May 13, 2016

The majority shareholder of Vist Broadcasting (Pvt.) Ltd. that was established under the Samagam Medura registration no. PV 63832 on 11 April 2008 by misusing a donation given by the Chinese government to the then Sri Lankan government in late 2007 is Vindya Rangani Hettiarachchi (daughter of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s younger sister, and sister of Himal Hettiarachchi), who is a resident of no. 175/2, Old Kottawa Road, Mirihana, Nugegoda.

Other directors of the channel were Nedigamuwa Lalith Pium Perera (ex-chairman of Youth Services Council), Kapila Gamini Samarasinghe Dissanayake and Kassapa Senarath Dissanayake. Secretary of the company was Devmin Chandranath Theminda Perera of no. 12, De Fonseka Road, Colombo 05.

 

The registered address of Vist Broadcasting was at Koswatte in Battaramulla, but its office was located at no. 17 A, Ocean Towers, Colombo 04.

 

Then then subject minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa had given a temporary broadcasting license to this company.

 

The investor, Nilanga Indrajith Hettiarachchi initially agreed to invest Rs. 150 million, but he channeled only Rs. 24 million. The initial investment of Rs. 160 million was reportedly made by Rajapaksa brothers Namal and Yoshitha.

 

In August 2010, Lalith Pium Perera and Kapila Gamini Samarasinghe Dissanayake resigned as directors and Narendra Seelanatha joined the director board.

 

In November 2011, Vist Broadcasting merged with Carlton Sports Network (CSN). With that, Kassapa Senarath and Narendra Seelanatha left the director board.

 

Thereafter, Kavishan Dissanayake joined the director board. Nishantha Ranatunga was appointed CEO of the company and in 2012, Sinha FM and Red FM were launched.

 

In November 2012, Menaka Liyanage (son of Upali Liyanage, chairman of the National Lotteries Board during the Chandrika regime) joined as a director.

 

In March 2013, Vindya Rangani Hettiarachchi, the founding majority shareholder, left the director board. Then in September 2015, Menaka Liyanage and Kavishan Dissanayake resigned and Niranga and Sanka joined the director board.

 

Additionally, Dinesh Jayawardena (a relative of Ravi Karunanayake) and Dilini Karunajeewa (wife of Indika Karunajeewa) have served as non-executive directors. So did Sujani Bogollagama, a closest female friend of Namal.

 

Lalith Pium Perera and Narendra Seelanatha, who resigned as directors, gave statements to the FCID last Thursday and Friday.

 

The FCID summoned Dinesh Jayawardena and Menaka Liyanage to record statements, but powerful politicians had reportedly prevented that from taking place. The FCID has so far not been able to reach the wife of Indika Karunajeewa, who is now in Australia.

 

Namal is saying these days that Sujani and others had betrayed him. The FCID has obtained a court order and is investigating the bank accounts of members of the first director board. Once those details were submitted to courts, we will bring you a full report.