My brother may have stolen, but he’s not a thief, Arjuna tells PM

 Saturday, 21 February 2015
Port, shipping  and aviation minister Arjuna Ranatunga accompanied his younger brother Nishantha Ranatunga to meet prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on 19 in order to pave the way for him to contest at the upcoming election for Sri Lanka Cricket, say sources at the prime minister’s office.

Before the presidential election, Arjuna quoted COPE reports, raised a big voice regarding corruption and fraud that had taken place at SLC, and said the corrupt, even if a member of his own family, should be punished. After without directly mentioning his brother’s name there, Arjuna is now intoxicated by brotherly love, forgotten all what he had said and is attempting to protect his corrupt brother, say government sources.

Meeting the premier with his brother, Arjuna has reproached the media, especially websites, by saying, “These mud websites are the ones who have made my younger brother a thief. My brother might have taken without telling, but he was never a thief (taking without telling is thievery). I do not admit the allegation that my brother is a thief. I will not reject it either” in a Sannasgala-type answer.

Recently, JVP’s Wasantha Samarasinghe lodged a detailed complaint against Nishantha at the Bribery Commission. As an investigation was to be held, Arjuna’s attempt to protect his brother has come in for strong criticism by those who love cricket.

Our sources say a group of cricket lovers is to complain to the  CID early next week against Nishantha for his having handed over property worth Rs. 06 million owned by SLC to CSN, while being the SLC secretary and the CEO of CSN.