Chinese companies attempt deals through Milinda!

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Companies involved in several Chinese projects, which are presently on hold, are trying to strike deals through Milinda Moragoda, the newest addition to president Maithripala Sirisena’s team of international affairs advisors, reports say.

This has come to light after Moragoda telephoned R. Paskaralingam, who is presently in charge of the treasury and the finance ministry, and asked him to grant an opportunity for S. Amaraseka, secretary to the former prime minister, and Ranjith Premasiri, former highways ministry secretary, to meet him.

This meeting is due to take place soon after Paskaralingam returns at the end of this week from his visit to London, where he is under medical treatment. Our sources say that before leaving for London, he had a brief meeting under the guidance of Moragoda.

The resumption of the port city and several other suspended Chinese projects are at the discretion of Paskaralingam. Knowing this well, Killy Maharaja is making influences through Moragoda. Already, he has obtained a three million dollar advance from the relevant Chinese company to promote the port city project. Parliamentary affairs minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, the ‘assistant’ of Killy and Moragoda, is brokering the meetings between officials of the previous regime with the president. By making Moragoda and Abeywardena stronger, Killy expects to weaken his key opponent, foreign affairs minister Mangala Samaraweera.