AG To Act On Monies Owed By Rajapaksa Regime
Nov 09, 2015
The loss incurred by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) for providing free air rides to the former First Family in SLAF commercial flights, which amounts to several millions of tax-payers’ money, is yet to be probed. Although it is learnt that the former government owes over Rs. 31 million to the SLAF, neither the Ministry of Defence nor any law enforcement authorities have taken steps to recover this money over the past 10 months since the defeat of the Rajapaksa regime.
These amounts were only for the air travel of MP Namal Rajapaksa, former Housing and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa, former Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premjayantha, former Chief Minister North Western Province Dayasiri Jayasekera, former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, 2015 Presidential candidate S. Manamendra who extended his support to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, and former Scientific Affairs Minister Tissa Witharana.
“The Air Force has provided the aircraft on credit facility and is going to lose the revenue in the event the outstanding bills are not settled. Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa had used air force commercial flights on 25 occasions from December 1, 2014 up to January 8, 2015 which cost the tax payer a shocking Rs.15.08 million. Basil had travelled in Air Force passenger aircraft on seven occasions on pending payments to the amount of Rs.4.81 million,” sources said. Wimal Weerawansa’s air travels had cost the SLAF Rs. 5.98 million, and Dayasiri Jayasekera amounting to Rs 2.6 million. Shiranthi Rajapaksa had flown to Maharagama from Ratmalana which is not even a distance of 10 kilo metres on December 12, 2014 in MI 17 aircraft which had cost the country Rs. 5.2 lakh,” SLAF sources said.
When questioned on whose direction the SLAF flights were given to the former First Family and their supporters on credit and whether the SLAF had recovered the money, Air Force Media Spokesperson Wing Commander Gihan Seneviratne said instructions were given by the Defence Ministry.
However, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi confirmed to The Sunday Leader that it was the Defence Secretary who had given the orders, and it was then Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who had to take the responsibility. When asked what action had been taken against those who were responsible for this loss and whether the money would be recovered, the Defence Secretary said he is not aware of the investigation process but added that it is up to the Attorney General to decide what action would be taken against those guilty.
