Thilanga supported the impeachment to avoid being arrested

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Sources from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) say that SLFP Borella organizer and UPFA Colombo District parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala had played a key role in the campaign supporting the impeachment process in order to prevent his arrest by the police. Sumathipala it is learnt has allegedly committed financial fraud amounting to Rs. 263 million to the Bank of Ceylon.

Fourteen officials from two NGOs – Sahana Foundation and Woemn and Children’s Development Foundation have taken monies from credit card holders under the internet payment gateway without their approval and have deposited Rs. 263 million in the accounts of the two NGOs. The Bank of Ceylon has had to pay the amount after finding out the fraud that had been committed. The incident has had a negative impact on the bank.

The Bank of Ceylon had complained to the CID and 14 persons had been arrested during the investigations and permission had been received from the Colombo Fort Magistrate to remand them pending investigation.

The two NGOs belong to Sumathipala. The CID has received information that the racket had been carried out with Sumathipala’s knowledge and that of several other governing party politicians. It has also been revealed that a senior radio journalist and several other media personnel have been benefited by the scheme. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has ordered that all persons involved in the fraudulent scheme be arrested regardless of the positions held by them.

It is learnt that Sumathipala and several media personnel are to file for anticipatory bail before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

Await a detailed exposure of the matter.

Thilanga to be appointed a deputy minister thanks to the impeachment

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has asked the President to appoint SLFP Borella organizer and UPFA Colombo District MP Thilanga Sumathipala as a deputy minister at the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Sumathipala is to be appointed as a deputy minister due to the vehicle parades organized in favor of the impeachment motion, printing and distributing mud slinging leaflets against the Chief Justice, organizing protests by Golden Key depositors and getting the depositors to protest outside the Chief Justice’s official residence.

However, the President till recently was displeased with Thilanga and on many occasions identified him as a person engaged in “double games.” The President had even instructed that Sumathipala be removed from Borella and replaced by MP Tiran Alles.

Basil Rajapaksa stood by Sumathipala and prevented him from being removed. It was basil who had advised Sumathipala to show his loyalty to the President during the impeachment process.

Although the President had not responded positively to the proposal to appoint Sumathipala as a deputy minister, he had finally agreed to the appointment since he needs the support of MPs when the government is faced with a series of crises in the coming months.

Nevertheless, the President has asked the state intelligence unit personnel to keep a close watch on Sumathipala’s movements.