JVP demands punishment

By Nelani De Costa-2016-07-15

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna yesterday held Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka directly responsible for the controversial coal purchasing tender scam which has presumably resulted in the State incurring a loss of Rs 1,803 million.

JVP North Central Provincial Councillor Wasantha Samarasinghe who is also the Convenor of the Voice Against Corruption (VAC) who made a complaint to the Anti- Corruption Secretariat yesterday afternoon, demanded that Minister Ranawaka who was in charge of the  Power and Energy portfolio at the time and officials involved in the alleged scam to be brought to book.

"Minister Ranawaka and the entire Cabinet of Ministers of the 100-day 'good governance' government of President Maithripala Sirisena should be held responsible for defrauding in public finances," Samarasinghe charged.

He said, this scam occurred in 2015 purchases of coal for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
"Even the Supreme Court has said, it was surprised by this colossal fraud tantamount to a huge misappropriation of public finances," he said.

Meanwhile, UPFA Parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara said incumbent Minister of Power and Energy Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was made a scapegoat as he had to put his signature to this deal in which he had no involvement. That deal was completely handled by Minister Ranawaka, he added.