Ranil mum on Anura’s questions

THURSDAY, 28 JANUARY 2016

The Chief Opposition Whip in Parliament JVP Parliamentarian Anura Dissanayaka asked a question from Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (27th) regarding a statement made by cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratna that a former VIP family is maintaining accounts in Dubai banks. The Leader of the House Minister Luxman Kiriella responded saying the Prime Minister will make a statement regarding the questions today (28th).

A little while ago the House adjourned but there was no statement from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Responding to Mr. Anura Dissanayaka’s questions Mr. Kiriella said in addition to the VIP family, a Member of Parliament and a head of a government institution too have deposited US$3000 million (Rs. 430650 million) in Dubai banks.

Question raised under Standing Order 23/2 – 27.01.2016

I would like to draw the attention of this assembly to the news that the government has found information regarding several foreign accounts of members of highest political families in this country containing large amounts of money.  On the 14th the cabinet spokesman of the government said that it had been revealed that three foreign accounts of a member of a political VIP family and three close associates have more than billion dollars. It was revealed that the member has US$1.086 billion,  a businessman who had been a Parliamentarian  has US$500 million and a joint account of a former Secretary and a chairman of an institution has US$1.8 billion. Also, another Parliamentarian of the government had told media that he had seen 426,560 billion hidden in foreign accounts by former rulers.

According to these explanations it is felt that the government is aware of all the information regarding the accounts. A broad dialogue occurred in the society that investigations should be carried out regarding frauds and corruption that had escalated   in the recent past, the perpetrators should be punished and the wealth they had plundered should be acquired. One of the main  of the presidential election held on 8th January, 2015 was the promise to punish fraudsters.

The same promise was made through the election manifesto ‘A Maithri administration – a new country in 100 days’. According to the ‘100 day programme what was destined for 5th February was to establish special councils to investigate large scale frauds.  At the general election held in August too there was a massive dialogue regarding taking legal action against fraudsters.

A suspicion is developing among the people that despite the new administration has been in office for a year, sufficient action has not been taken against frauds and corruption, the investigations being carried out do not go forward at an expected speed, the present government  is protecting fraudsters to maintain its power and there is interference for investigations being carried out  regarding frauds and corruption.

Such statements were also issued by the ruling party in October last year. However, we didn’t see legal action being taken forward against fraudsters. In such an environment, people think, that the government comes out with such statements not to take legal action against fraudsters but to deceive the people.

I expect the Prime Minister will answer the following questions that arise due to this situation.

1. Has the cabinet spokesman or the Parliamentarian made a complaint regarding the relevant accounts to relevant institutions?

2. Has anyone else who has seen these accounts and money made any complaint?

3.  Has anyone ever made such a complaint to any legal institution?

4. Which institutions have carried them out if there had been any investigations?

5. Who are the owners of those accounts?

6. What is the progress of such investigations? What is the framework of time to take legal action?

7. If there is no complaint or investigation regarding the definitely stated accounts, what action would be taken for making such false statements?

8. How many files of investigations that have been completed regarding frauds and corruption have been forwarded to the Attorney General? How many files have been approved and disapproved?

9. Do you accept that investigations regarding frauds and corruption should be carried out justly without any interference, legal action should be taken immediately against the perpetrators connected to such crimes and the wealth they had plundered should be recaptured for the country?