Questioning Basil for Rs. 6500 million

Monday, 30 March 2015 

Reports reaching LNW confirms the monetary crime division of the Sri Lanka Police is waiting to question the former economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa for the Rs. 65,000 million discrepancy of the Divi Neguma Development fund.

The questioning would focus how Rs. 4681 million belong to the Divi Neguma Department deposited in the Bank of Ceylon Battaramulla branch was spent and how the above amount in the fixed deposit account number 76488889 is transferred to the Divi Neguma current account number 3417925 in the same bank on 31st of December 2014 and why the money was drawn for different names by issuing cheques. Further how the interest amount of Rs. 36.6 million of the fixed deposit was credited to the current account and spent in the same way.

Meantime there are questions of how Rs. 1351 million was withdrawn in two occasions amounting million 580 and 771 on December 22nd 2014 from the director general’s divineguma account 7041562 in the Bank of Ceylon branch in Borella, how another 295 million was withdrawn in two occasions amounting 70 and 225 million on December 9th 2014 and other questions pertaining to this.

On March 25th the police media spokesperson Ruwan Wanigasekara said the police wanted to record a statement to inform the courts from the former minister Basil Rajapaksa who has now left the country about the financial irregularities alleged.

The police media spokesperson said the interrogation would lead to the questioning of the director general of the Divi Neguma Department R.R.K Ranawaka when latter said all transactions were done under the instructions of the former minister Basil Rajapaksa.

In spite of spending from accounts of Divineguma there are investigations leading to the expenditure of Rs. 73 million for a conference, gratuity fund, renovation of houses for the beneficiaries and the printing of calendars. On the 26th March the police media spokesperson stressed following a court order when the police went to the address in the passport of Basil Rajapaksa the residents of the Medamulana house obstructed them.