Karaoke owner becomes Chairman of Bank of Ceylon

Sunday, 02 June 2013

Minister Basil Rajapaksa is trying to get well known banker and karaoke owner, Janaka Ratnayake appointed to the post of Bank of Ceylon Chairman after the current Chairman, President’s Counsel Razik Zarook retires from the post this October.

Janaka Ratnayake was a former chairman of the Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka affiliated to Bank of Ceylon. Ratnayake was a key witness for the government when the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was being inquired. At the time, Ratnayake was hopeful of being appointed as the People’s Bank Chairman. However, due to the clash between Ratnayake and Ajith Panditharatne, the President appointed his chief of staff, Gamini Senarath to the post of People’s Bank Chairman.

Ratnayake is the owner of the well known karaoke club in Slave Island called, ICE. He is operating this club through a Russian lady named, Zelana. Janaka Ratnayake opened this karaoke bar with the intention of getting pretty Russian girls to secure deals for him from powerful government members.

After Ratnayake was appointed as the Chairman of Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka, the karaoke club’s management was assigned to Nuwara Eliye Wasantha.

Ratnayake first built his link with the Rajapaksa family in 2005 through Dr. Sunimal Fernando. He had then volunteered to carry out the President’s telephone campaign and had later charged for the voluntary campaign. The campaign was carried out from Computer Island (Pvt) Limited in Kirulapone and the police had later taken action against the company for illegally tapping electricity. However, Ratnayake had managed to save himself from being arrested using Basil Rajapaksa’s influence and after getting the police to arrest a driver of the company.

Later, the building that belonged to Computer Island (Pvt) Limited was sold to the National Saving Bank and Rs. 120 lakhs taken as VAT payments during the transaction has not yet been handed over to the Inland Revenue Department.

This person has even been mentioned parliament hansards as some one unsuitable to hold any office in the state sector. Questions have therefore been raised as to how such a person could be suitable to hold the post of Bank of Ceylon Chairman.

Supreme Court Judge Shirani Bhuran Thilekwardena who maintained a strong stance against this corrupt person had recently summoned him to her chamber and said, “Janaka, you helped us a lot during the impeachment. We have therefore decided to help Janaka. All you cases will end soon. So don’t be afraid.”

President brought parcels of credit for white elephant projects, not gifts, from China – Daya

Sunday, 02 June 2013 

What the president brought with him from his recent visit to China are parcels of credit for white elephant projects in the country, and not gift parcels as thought by some, said UNP national organizer and eastern provincial councilor Daya Gamage.

He was addressing local government and provincial council members of the UNP in Matara district at a meeting at Hemali Hotel in Walgama today.

UNP MP Dr. Anoma Gamage, former MP Sagala Ratnayake, Devinuwara organizer Wimalasiri and several others also participated.

Mr. Gamage went onto say that the UNP had repeatedly warned that even the future generations would have to repay the massive loans being obtained, purportedly for development projects, but in actual fact to pocket big commissions by those in power.

According to the 2012 report of the Central Bank, Sri Lanka’s foreign debt stood at Rs. 6,000 billion, but the real figure is Rs. 7,500 billion, he said.

Mr. Gamage said that when he had inquired from a top official of a lending institution as to why such massive loans are being granted to Sri Lanka, that official had replied that although the island was without a good economy at present, they believed the loans would be repaid to them once the UNP formed a government and the economy became stable.

Even government ministers accept the fact that it is Ranil Wickremesinghe, not Mahinda Rajapaksa, who could revive the economy of the country, he noted.

Speaking furthter, Mr. Gamage said all should commit themselves to form a UNP regime despite attempts by present rulers to divide the party, just like they did to the JVP.

A beseeching of God Vishnu, the custodian of Sri Lanka according to Mahawamsa, to create leaders capable of ensuring good governance will begin from Dondra on June 09 and held countrywide with the support of all, he added.

Also speaking here, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said the present regime had earned the wrath of the masses in an unprecedented level.

Their hopes for economic and social development after the end of the war have been dashed to the ground, and it is not the UNP suporters, but the ruling UPFA supporters, who had become the most disillusioned with this government, he added.

Mr. Samaraweera said an environment has established itself under which the UNP can win the next election, and asked the suproters to work with commitment and determination to achieve that objective