Wayamba Traders bribes Chamuditha by the millions!
- Thursday, 06 March 2014
Wayamba Traders, which has obtained the monopoly from the ministries of agriculture, commerce and industries to import arecanuts, has been paying Rs. 2.5 million a month to businessman-journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema, for being the media coordinator for the deal, it is reported. The former TNL journalist gives the permission and does the relevant media coverage.
In Sri Lanka, it has become a trend for businessmen fronting as journalists to join government ministries as media consultants and strike deals with various businessmen through the respective ministers. Previously, as the media consultant to the health ministry, Chamuditha had struck several such deals, say ministry sources.
Chamuditha has obtained money from Wayamba Traders owner Thadikin and leaked to the media that one
‘Yakada Sampath’, a friend of MP Namal Rajapaksa and minister Johnston Fernando, had imported five containerloads of arecanuts without agriculture ministry permission. Thadikin pays a monthly sum to Chamuditha, thanks to which the latter owns a luxury apartment at Bambalapitiya and uses a ‘C’ class luxury Benz car, his media colleagues point out.
- Thursday, 06 March 2014
Wayamba Traders, which has obtained the monopoly from the ministries of agriculture, commerce and industries to import arecanuts, has been paying Rs. 2.5 million a month to businessman-journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema, for being the media coordinator for the deal, it is reported. The former TNL journalist gives the permission and does the relevant media coverage.‘Yakada Sampath’, a friend of MP Namal Rajapaksa and minister Johnston Fernando, had imported five containerloads of arecanuts without agriculture ministry permission. Thadikin pays a monthly sum to Chamuditha, thanks to which the latter owns a luxury apartment at Bambalapitiya and uses a ‘C’ class luxury Benz car, his media colleagues point out.
Government statistics show people’s suffering - UNP
- Thursday, 06 March 2014
UNP parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva has pointed out that statistics released by the government have revealed that a majority of the people struggled to survive.
He has told parliament that while a majority struggled for survival, a minority enjoyed the promised miracle.
He has further noted that there were disparities in some of the statistics. Referring to the recent Household Income & Expenditure Survey 2012/13 report published by the Department of Census and Statistics, Dr. de Silva has said that the report outlines the need for Rs. 40,887 by an average family in Sri
Lanka to meet their monthly household expenses while an urban household with less than four family members needs Rs. 59,001.
Lanka to meet their monthly household expenses while an urban household with less than four family members needs Rs. 59,001.
He has also highlighted that the per capita income was recorded at US$ 3,000, but the same report has stated that the average per capita income is Rs. 11,932 per month.
“There is a considerable disparity between the per capita income of US$ 3,000 and what is revealed in this report,” Dr. de Silva has added.