When cat is away rats at play at Rupavahini : chairman abroad , so ‘rats’ invite notorious traitor for live telecast

-Media chiefs asleep at the wheel

(Lanka-e-news -25.Aug.2016, 4.30PM) Yesterday is a most crucial day for National Rupavahini television . This is not  for reasons which would make the nation happy but rather because a traitor has been invited for a live telecast over its channel to the dismay and  rude  shock of the nation and the world ! 

The present administrative authority has taken steps  to invite the most infamous Major General Shaveendra Silva to participate in the Nugasevana program of the Rupavahini despite the well and widely known fact that Shaveendra tarnished the image of Sri Lanka (SL)  before the entire world based on charges of direct violation of human rights, in addition to his involvement in a multi million rupee fraud while he was serving in the SL office of the United Nations( UN) New York in connection with which an investigation is under way.

Shaveendra has been invited for the Rupavahini program to promote the ‘Gajaba Supercross’ event which in fact was a ‘headache’ for the soldiers in the army though to  those in the higher rungs of the army during the Gotabaya Rajapakse lawless era , it was something for them to rejoice and revel ( being an opportunity to plunder ).

Shaveendra created  history as the one and only who  gave precedence to self fattening by exploiting   the war rather than fighting the war . The foolhardiness of Shaveendra can also be clearly understood vis a vis his imbecility of  having  a posse of media henchmen around him ,lavishing them with  black label whisky and  trying  to boost his image using them , which on the contrary finally led to  the war crimes and those criminal orders given during the war to be marketed and  circulated internationally.
 
While journalists were banned from  entering  the battlefield ,still the confidential reports were made possible to be sold at colossal rates internationally with the knowledge and approval  of notorious Shaveendra the   traitor . Moreover , it is this same traitor while embarking on bogus  foreign tours soon after the war ended ,  who sold war video footages to LTTE sympathizers at extremely high prices . The video footages that are telecast via channel four are  those footages sold by the Shaveendras and not those given to the LTTE sympathizers by any  other .
 
It is because of these betrayals of the country and his own nation that Shaveendra was able to freely stay in New York citywhere exist large pro LTTE groups .

Shaveendra while  masquerading as a patriot has all along been a traitor out and out, and a double agent. Lanka e news at that time had reported incident after incident in this connection. We have all the evidence even now in our possession .If it was in another country he would be behind bars , whereas sadly in SL like in a nudist camp where nudity is honorable, criminals are treated honorably by our media channels. 

During the run up to the last presidential elections it was this unscrupulous traitorous Shaveendra in official uniform unlawfully mounted the political campaign platform of ex corrupt brutal president Mahinda Rajapakse who was a presidential candidate then ,violating army disciplinary code and election laws flagrantly . Moreover he disgraced the uniform and the army by doing all the sordid and unlawful biddings of the Rajapakses who were finally thrown out lock stock and barrel by the people on 8 th January  2015 . In any other country such a scoundrel would now be behind bars for betraying  the genuine forces and the nation , and for high treason.

Incredible but true ! it is this scoundrel who is a disgrace to the army , the nation and himself who has been invited to address the nation  live on channel one of the National Rupavahini from 9.30 a.m to 10.00 a.m. though the  pro good governance masses have expressed their utter displeasure against the satanic spirits of Rajapakse still haunting the Rupavahini channel. 

It is learnt that this is a deliberate attempt and a calculated conspiracy to create  alternative and misleading opinions among the pro good governance masses who are treading the right path of the incumbent government of good governance. This is a cold calculated conspiracy  because this program had been organized during the period Rupavahini chairman Ravi Jayawardena is out of the Island.

Those of the Rupavahini behind this conspiracy are :
Director General Professor Sunil Shantha
Programs division chief  Wimalaratne Adhikari
Nugasevana supervisor Dharshana Piyaratne ( the one who participated in all the malpractices within Athugalage’s Institution  during the nefarious Rajapakse decade)
Sports unit Director Palitha Senarath Yapa and
Marketing Manager Anil Sirimalwatte

At a time when the government is taking great pains to establish reconciliation ,is this the message in favor of reconciliation  that is being conveyed by a leading national television to the group of people who were victims ?

The minister in charge of the media , deputy minister, media secretary and the Director General information who are in a deep slumber while allowing a locally and internationally discarded  scoundrel like Shaveendra who brazenly and brutally violated human rights to speak let alone hold the mike of a main  electronic media of the State  must hang their heads in shame ( whether they have their heads in the right place is another question) . 

At this rate , if the Rajapakse stooges and lickspittles while taking these administrators for a ride  sooner than later  take control , these sleepy Joes will still be sleeping like Rip Van Winkle .

Lanka e news that espouses truth and nothing but the truth frankly, fearlessly and forthrightly , and which is always with the people for good governance wishes to issue a dire warning : this is just one incident , whereas there  are similar incidents occurring everywhere every now and then , which can , if allowed to escalate reach alarming proportions so much so the government itself can be brought to its knees. 

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by     (2016-08-25 11:24:55)

Basil’s stooge does it for himself!

Aug 25, 2016

Architect Muditha Jayakody, who identifies himself as the modern day deshamanya Geoffrey Maning Bawa, has once again betrayed one of his masters, former economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa. He has committed this betrayal  to the FCID and  to the pugoda magistrate ., This  time to the Department of Inland Revenue.

The architect for the Mnasion in the infamous Malwana land ,  five beach Villas Browns Hill  in Matara and the  hi tech gampaha office of Basil's admits in the attached letter personally delivered to IRD accompanied by security provided by the GOSL that he had previously given false information to the Department that he had declared that he derived income from architecture fees he had earned to build the mansion and thereafter paid income tax including a penalty for late declaration on the said income.Astonishingly, he has now  written to the department, requesting that he be refunded the money he had paid as taxes for the income he declared claiming that the funds he declared as income in effect is not his but belong to a third party.

It is hilarious that Jayakody, who boasts himself to be an architect par excellence, does not know that providing false information to the Inland Revenue Department is an offence under the Inland Revenue Act punishable by imprisonment or by fine, or both.

A senior official of the department, who revealed the details to us said, “Muditha himself has fallen to the ditch he had dug for Basil.”

The letter does not mention Basil, but in his lengthy statement to the FCID, he has admitted to be the proxy holder to launder black money belonging to Basil. Also, he has confessed to his wrong committed on behalf of Basil in a confession given to the Pugoda magistrate under clause 127 of the criminal procedure code. Named an accomplice in the FCID case filed against Basil Rohana Rajapaksa, Muditha has now become a witness of the state. Due to be summoned to the Inland Revenue Department soon, he will be told by its officials to reveal the identity of that person.  Muditha ought to be prosecuted for having given false information to the department.                                                                                                  

The attorney general has informed the government that the Malwana land and building of around 16 acres which is in the name of Muditha cannot be taken over as previously claimed . However Muditha has informed that he is  prepared to donate the land to the    Ministry of land  in order to escape his wrong. After the government recieves this benevolent gift from Muditha Jayakody he will be elevated as one of the great philanthropist. A man who seeks to promote the welfare of others by his generous donation of the Malwana land and building for the love of huminity in the sense it will be used as a police training school, like the 101 room Amaragiri Walawwa unawatuna, donated by H W Amarasuriya to Establish Teachers training school.

A statue of his is to be erected for posterity in the Malwana roundabout.He will be joing the roll of honour of Sri Lanka's philanthropists like

Sir John Kotelawala, Henrey De Mel, Sir Cyril De Zoysa, Sir Ernest De Silva, Sir Charles Henrey De Soysa, Jeronis De Soysa,Sir Ponnambalam Ramanthan,Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, Al Haj Thassim (OBE), H.W Amarasuriya.

Govt. threatens to sue those who level bribery allegations against President Sirisena

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena addressing the media at the SLFP head office. Jaffna District MP Angajan Ramanathen was also present. Pic Ranjith Wimalasiri


by Dasun Edirisinghe-August 25, 2016, 10:06 pm 


The government yesterday said it would take legal action against those who levelled bribery allegations against President Maithripala Sirisena, claiming he asked for money before signing an agreement with an Australian company to build a dam when he was the Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services in 2009.


Addressing the media at the SLFP headquarters, State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said legal action was being processed.


According to a media report, published on The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers in Australia on Wednesday (24), President Maithripala Sirisena and his coordinating secretary allegedly demanded a political "donation" to be paid by Snowy Mountains Engineering Company (SMEC) when Mr Sirisena was a Cabinet minister.


The company emails show a plot to skim the money off a World Bank-funded dam project in 2009. In return, Mr Sirisena was to approve the awarding of the dam contract to SMEC, worth $1.82 million .


SMEC’s Sri Lankan manager, who was recently sacked, wrote in emails to two Australian colleagues that he wanted to "inform the minister/co-ordinating secretary" of the size of an alleged kickback to be paid and that he needed to "prioritise" certain payments to unnamed parties "since the signing of the contract would depend" on it.


According to the media report, Co-ordinating-Secretary said this is the way it goes prior to signing the cabinet papers. He wants us to propose an amount/percentage on the contract value. If you could advise me on an amount of percentage based on the financial figures I could inform the minister/ Co-ordinating Sec …"


Twelve days later, the manager wrote another email saying that unnamed "key people" had asked for approximately "1%... of the total contract."


"The key people have now disclosed their cost as 2.5m LKR [Sri Lankan Rupees, a sum worth about $A27,000]".


Minister Abeywardena said there was suspicion as to why this issue was came suddenly after seven years and there might be a conspiracy behind that.


"It was not a detailed report and no name of the coordinating secretary, but I can’t comment further as a legal process is on-going," Abeywardena said.


Responding a query whey the government also raised old issues against Joint Opposition MPs, the minister said those cases were filed with detailed evidence, but the report against the President had no such details.

OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY: THEFT

2016-08-26

Offences against property have been committed from time immemorial, ever since primaeval man acquired private property as opposed to property owned in common in primitive societies. The necessity for theft arises out of need as well as greed. Celebrated French novelist Victor Hugo in his epic historical novel Les Miserables relates the famous incident where his character ex-convict Jean Valjean robs a loaf of bread out of need. The Penal Code of Sri Lanka, in Chapter XVII titled 'Of Offences Against Property', lays down the law with regard to the criminal offence of theft. On 'theft', Section 366 says, whoever, intending to take dishonestly any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person's consent, moves that property in order to such taking, is said to commit 'theft'.
In explanation it is said, (1) a thing so long as it is attached to the earth, not being movable property, is not the subject of theft; but it becomes capable of being the subject of theft as soon as it is severed from the earth, (2) a moving effected by the same act which effects the severance may be theft, (3) a person is said to cause a thing to move by removing an obstacle which prevented it from moving, or by separating it from any other thing as well as by actually moving it, (4) a person who by any means causes an animal to move is said to move that animal, and to move everything which in consequence of the motion so caused, is moved by that animal, and (5) the consent mentioned in the definition may be expressed or implied, and may be given either by the person in possession, or by any person having for that purpose authority either express or implied.
Illustration
In illustration it is said, (a) A, cuts down a tree on Z's ground, with the intention of dishonestly taking the tree out of Z's possession without Z's consent. Here as soon as A has severed the tree, in order to such taking, he has committed theft, (b) A, puts abait for dogs in his pocket, and thus induces Z's dog to follow it; here if A's intention be dishonestly to take the dog out of Z's possession without Z's consent, A has committed theft as soon as Z's dog has begun to follow A, (c) A, meets a bullock carrying a box of treasure; he drives the bullock in a certain direction, in order that he may dishonestly take the treasure; as soon as the bullock begins to move A has committed the theft of the treasure, (d) A, being Z's servant, and entrusted by Z with the care of Z's plate, dishonestly runs away with the plate without Z's consent; A, has committed theft, (e) Z, going on a journey, entrusts his plate to A, the keeper of a warehouse, till Z shall return; A, carries the plate to a goldsmith and sells it; here the plate was not in Z's possession; it could not, therefore, be taken out of Z's possession, and A, has not committed theft, though he may have committed criminal breach of trust, (f) A, finds a ring belonging to Z on a table in the house which Z occupies; here the ring is in Z's possession, and if A dishonestly removes it, A, commits theft, (g) A, finds a ring lying on the high road, not in the possession of any person, A, by taking it, commits no theft, though he may commit criminal misappropriation of property, (h) A, sees a ring belonging to Z lying on a table in Z's house; not venturing to misappropriate the ring immediately for fear of search and detection, A hides the ring in a place where it is highly improbable that it will ever be found by Z with the intention of taking the ring from the hiding place and selling it when the loss is forgotten; here A, at the time of first moving the ring, commits theft, (i) A, delivers his watch to Z, a jeweller, to be regulated; Z' carries it to his shop; A, not owing to the jeweller any debt, for which the jeweler might lawfully detain the watch as security, enters the shop openly, takes his watch by force out of Z's hand, and carries it away; here A, though he may have committed criminal trespass and assault, has not committed theft, inasmuch as what he did was not done dishonestly, (j) A, owes money to Z for repairing the watch, and if Z retains the watch lawfully as a security for the debt, and A, takes the watch out of Z's possession with the intention of depriving Z of the property as a security for his debt, he commits theft, inasmuch as he takes it dishonestly, (k) again if A, having pawned his watch to Z, takes it out of Z's possession without Z's consent, not having paid what he borrowed on the watch, he commits theft, though the watch is his own property, inasmuch as he takes it dishonestly, (l) A, takes an article belonging to Z out of Z's possession, without Z's consent, with the intention of keeping it until he obtains money from Z as a reward for its restoration; here A, takes dishonestly; A, has, therefore, committed theft, (m) A, being on friendly terms with Z, goes into Z's library in Z's absence, and takes away a book without Z's express consent, for the purpose merely of reading it and with the intention of returning it; here it is probable that A may have conceived that he had Z's implied consent to use Z's book; if this was A's impression, A, has not committed theft, (n) A, asks charity from Z's wife; she gives A money, food and clothes which A knows belong to Z, her husband; here, it is probable that A may have conceived that Z's wife is authorized to give away alms; if this was A's impression, A has not committed theft, (o)A, is the paramour of Z's wife; she gives a valuable property which A knows belong to her husband Z and to be such property as she has not authority from Z to give; if A, takes the property dishonestly, he commits theft, and (p) A, in good faith, believing property belonging to Z to be A's own property, takes that property out of Z's possession; here, as A does not take dishonestly, he does not commit theft.
Punishment
On punishment for theft, Section 367 says, whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
On theft of cattle and of praedial products, Section 368 says, whoever commits theft (a) of any bull, cow, steer, buffalo, heifer or calf or (b) of any fruit, vegetable, or other praedial production, or any cultivated root or plant used or capable of being used for the food of man or beast, or for medicine, distilling, or dyeing, or in the course of any manufacture, may in addition to any other punishment for theft, be punished with whipping.
Of theft in any dwelling house and so on, Section 369 says, whoever commits theft in any building, tent, or vessel, which building, tent, or vessel is used as a human dwelling, or for the custody of property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

On theft by a clerk or a servant of any property in the possession of a master, Section 370 says, whoever, being a clerk or servant, or being employed in the capacity of a clerk or servant, commits theft in respect of any property in the possession of his master or employer, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Of theft after preparation made for causing death or hurt, in order to the committing of the theft, Section 371 says, whoever commits theft, having made preparations for causing death or hurt or restraint, to any person, in order to the committing of such theft, or in order to the effecting of his escape after the committing of such theft, or in order to the retaining of property taken by such theft, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

In illustration it is said, (a) A, commits theft of property in Z's possession and while committing this theft, he has a loaded pistol under his garment, having provided this pistol for the purpose of hurting Z, in case Z should resist; A, has committed the offence defined in this Section, and (b) A, picks Z's pocket, having posted several of his companions near him in order that they mayrestrain Z, if Z should perceive what is passing and should resist or should attempt to apprehend A; A, has committed the offence defined in this Section.
Treatise
In the treatise Offences under the Penal Code of Sri Lanka by Prof. G.L. Peiris that should adorn even a layman's library, it is mentioned that Abdul v. Dias (1910) 14 NLR 23 was a case where a licensed cattle seizer untied a bull from the complainant's garden and took it to the police station, falsely alleging he had found it loose and trespassing on the road. It was held in appeal that the dishonest intention, necessary for the conviction of theft, could be readily established in these circumstances. Hutchinson CJ said: "This man moved the bull, intending to take it out of the owner's possession without his consent; the question is whether he did it'dishonestly' within the meaning of the Code. He intended to cause loss to the owner who, if the accused could satisfy the Court or the Village Tribunal that the bull was trespassing, would have to pay something under the Cattle Trespass Ordinance in order to get his bull back". Inasmuch as an intention to cause wrongful loss to the complainant was demonstrable, the Court held that the dishonest intention in the accused had been proved.
In Gunasekera v. Soloman (1923) 25 NLR 474 Bertram CJ said: "In this case the Magistrate says that there can be no doubt that the accused were not bent so much on stealing the bull and half cart as on causing annoyance or injury to the complainant by their driving away the cart and bull. The injury there referred to is not an injury in the nature of wrongful loss. It is clear that this was an act of trespass of a malicious nature done with the object of causing annoyance, and I do not think it can be considered as theft within the meaning of our law".

Defence
In Gnanaprakasam v. Bulner(1916) 19 NLR 190, the accused was charged with having instructed her servant to bring some coal from the railway premises. Her defence to the charge of abetment of theft was that she believed the cinders in the railway yard to be discarded property which could be appropriated by anyone. The accused person's conviction was vitiated on the ground that her genuine belief that the property was res derelictae negated a dishonest intention. In appeal, de Sampayo J. observed: "It is not necessary that the subject should, in fact, be a derelict; it is sufficient if the person charged bona fide believed it to be so .... Therecan be no intention of causing wrongful loss to (the owner) when it is in good faith believed that he has abandoned the property and no longer wishes to have it".

Namal and his clan’s colossal money laundering: Iriyagolle’s shocking confession and FCID’s Full B report..!

(Lanka-e-News -25.Aug.2016, 11.55PM) Colombo Fort additional magistrate Nishantha Pieris on the 22 nd  ordered that Lakshman Namal Rajapakse (son of ex president of Sri Lanka), Sudharshana Ganegoda and Nishantha Senani Samaranayake who were in remand custody  following arrest based on charges of money laundering supported by clear evidence  be  released  on bail. Each was ordered to be released on cash bail of Rs. 100,000.00 and four personal sureties in a sum of Rs. ten million.   

There were chances  for Namal Rajapakse  to be released on bail because they were charged not under the public property Act , but rather under the Money laundering Act , and since Namal was already out on bail in another case. In any event it is the conviction of the public  that bail was granted prematurely  .In any event , the Sri Lanka Bail enactment is there not to keep suspects continuously in remand but to grant them bail. The public should understand in a case when  bail is  granted that does not mean the case proceedings are over. 

It is well to recall on the first occasion when Namal was released on bail , he tried to parade as a hero by getting down bus loads of party supporters across the country. However on the 22nd  when he was released , not even a ‘dog’ was there to shout hoorah. .

From  the 23 rd  they were  going to say , he is a free individual  ,and Namal was a victim of political revenge . In the circumstances , the people are entitled to know about the millions and millions of rupees money laundered by  Namalafter collecting cash via illicit commissions and extortions.

By now , it is well and widely known that Namal  , laundered Rs. 15 million and Rs. 30 million (supported with evidence ) of NR consultancy and Gowers Corporation respectively which companies belonged to him  ,  and that  Namal was remanded in respect of the Rs. 15 million  money laundering activity.

Lanka e news deems it is  its bounden duty as a news website always espousing the truth and nothing but the truth , to reveal the disclosures made by Rohan Abey Iriyagolle the owner of Boston capital establishment in this case  , and also the comprehensive B report furnished by the FCID to court  in order that  the people of the country would understand what an  ace and accomplished rogue Lakshman Namal Rajapkse is of the Rajapakse Blue brigand . These two reports are appended. 

The B report furnished by the FCID to court regarding  Lakshman Namal Rajapakse the  ace crook of the Rajapakse Blue brigand is hereunder …

(The  sub headings are not of the B report but of  Lanka e news  for the easy reading of the viewers)

It was Vasantha Samarasinghe PC member , the anti corruption voice organization convener who lodged the complaint with the FCID against Lakshman Namal Rajapakse. 

In the complaint it was  stated ,during the past  Lakshman Namal Rajapakse while he was a parliamentary member misused his  official powers to amass large amount of wealth illicitly , and utilizing part of that wealth , he purchased the Hello Corp private Co. It was through this Co. all the co -ordinating services of Air Lanka were carried out, and while  Namal is an M.P. he had been signing trade agreements with the government thereby committing  an offence. 

Further the complaint reveals, by transferring the ownership of HelloCorp Co. to Gowers Corporate service , it has been confirmed that Namal Rajapakse is the owner of those companies. In the complaint it is further  stated ,the sum of over Rs. 100 million disbursed  to purchase HeloCorp Co. by Namal are monies earned illicitly while he was an M.P.  Similarly large sums of monies have been earned illegally by him to purchase some more assets, and therefore an extensive investigation be conducted , the complaint requests .

Investigation into Namal’s money laundering begins….

Following investigations it was confirmed that Lakshman Namal Rajapakse is the holder of all the shares of the NR consultancy Co .  This Co. was registered as a legal consultancy Firm under PV 83718 on 2012-01-16 . Though it was indicated the Co. was located at 15/1 Lake drive , Subithupura , Battaramulla , this office and business had been carried on at 7, Gowers street , Colombo 05 at the beginning. This Battaramulla address is that of Sujani Bogallagama. 

The shareholder , the Directors and the staff of NR consultancy Pvt. . Firm are as follows :
Lakshman Namal Rajapakse – holder of all the shares
Nithya Senani Samaranayake – Director
Sudharshan Bandara Ganegoda – Director
Iresha Silva – legal officer
Sujani Bogallagama – Chief executive officer
Dilrukshi Mahanama – Accountant
Vasitha Pinnawela -  Project officer 

Accordingly the  shareholder , the Director Board , and other members of the staff  were summoned to the FCID and their statements were recorded. It was revealed the directors of the Co. were appointed based on the friendship and family relationship they had with Namal .This Co . was engaged in proffering advice , discussing with the clients  who arrive at the Co. , and providing legal advice. Statements of Sujani Bogallagama who served as  the Company’s CEO and Dilrukshi Mahanama who was the accountant were also recorded pertaining to their activities in the Co. 

They revealed that depending on the services sought by the clients who come there , the counseling is given and after  the service is provided , an invoice indicating the fee is forwarded to the client . The Directors had furnished details relating to 25  such invoices which are given below :

An infinitesimal  drop of the infinite illicit earnings …

1.Invoice for Rs. 1.3 million dated 2013-05-20 for providing a rough analysis pertaining to constructions within Sri Lanka   to S.N.S. construction
2,Cash collected through Invoice dated 2012-10-06 for Rs. 7 million to prepare a project report for  Boston capital Co . to start  Arambay resort hotel
3.Invoice dated 2102-02-05 for Rs. 17,13600.00 to prepare  project report for Boston Capital Co. to start a vehicle repair yard at Mirrijawila , Hambantota
4.Invoice dated 2012-10-01 for Rs. 39, 60,000.00 to prepare a project report  for Boston capital Co. to launch Vista Nature Resort Hotel at Yala .
5.Invoice dated 2012-07-12 for Rs. 51,25000.00 to prepare  a project report for Boston capital Co. to construct an Elephant resort and Spa Hotel at Sigiriya .
6.Invoice dated 2012-05-10 for Rs. 19,65,000.00 to prepare  a project report forIconbees Investment to do a research regarding an agriculture investment and the market in Myanmar
7.Invoice dated 2012-06-20 for Rs. US dollars 27000.00 to prepare  a project report forIconbees investment to do a research regarding agriculture investment and market in Myanmar
8.Invoice dated 2012 -05-10 US dollars 77,000.00 to prepare a project report forIconbees investment to do a research regarding agriculture investment and marketing in Myanmar
9.Invoice dated 2012-07-02 for US dollars 30,000.00 to prepare a project report forIconbees investment to do a research regarding agriculture investment and marketing in Myanmar.
10.Invoice dated 2013-01-01 for Rs. 100279.00 to register  E .N., Southern Pvt. Co.
11.Invoice dated 2013-01-02 for Rs. 109133.47 to register Gowers Corporate Co.
12.Invoice dated 2013-01-03 for Rs. 109133.47 to register A.K. Tours Pvt. Ltd.
13. Invoice dated 2013-01-04 for Rs.110287.30 to registerCeymax Ceylon Pvt. Co.
14.Invoice dated 2013-01-05  for Rs. 99708. 67 to register Mangrove  Resort Pvt. Co
15.Invoice dated 2013-01-01 for Rs. 107408.45 to register Red cabs Pvt. Co.
16. Invoice dated 2013-01-02 for Rs. 100279.87 to register Euro Nippon Enterprises
17.Invoice dated 2013-01-04 for Rs. 100279.87 to register Verity consultancy Pvt. Co.
18.Invoice dated 2013-01-05 for Rs. 101136.67 to register Sunway properties Pvt. Co.
19.Invoice dated 2013-09-01 for Rs. 100565.47 to registerSethmini Travels Pvt. Co.
20.Invoice dated 2013-01-01 for Rs. 100279.87 to register Saki Holding Pvt. Co.
21.Invoice dated 2013-01-03 fro Rs. 110858.50 to register Gowers solutions Pvt. Co.
22.Invoice dated 2013-01-04 for Rs. 108562.27 to register Asia Nippon Pvt. Co.
23.Invoice dated 2013-01-05 for Rs. 109133.47 to register Keju Ceylon Pvt. Co.
24.Invoice dated 2013-01-01 fro Rs. 110858.50 to register Blue Cabs Pvt. Co .
25.Invoice dated 2013-01-01 for Rs. 2,401,500.00 to do a feasibility study regarding the project to establish a computer data facility at Hambantota by Indian Trimax IT  

In certain instances, when the afore noted transactions took place ,in addition to those transactions invoices had been issued regarding various other projects in accordance with the  counseling provided . In that connection when the directors of the Co. ,Sudharshana Bandara Ganegoda and Nithya Senani Samaranayake , General manageress Sujani Bogallagama , accountant Dilrukshi Mahanama and other staff were questioned , they explained those transactions did take place  ,and supported those with documents and registers. 

Four of the 25 transactions supported with evidence…

However , since doubts were harbored regarding the mode and manner in which  the Co .was providing counseling and advice ,investigations were  conducted regarding the individuals who were linked to the transactions aforementioned. Four of those transactions are being probed separately based on the advice of the Attorney General (AG)  . Those are ..

1.The issue of invoice dated 2012-10-06 for Rs. 7 million to provide   a project report to Boston Capital Co. to construct a hotel - Aragam bay resort .
2.Issue of an invoice dated 2012-02-05 for Rs. 17,13600.00 to provide a project report to launch a vehicle repair yard at Mirijjawila , Hambantota for Boston Capital Co.
3.The issue ofinvoice dated 2012-10-01 for Rs. 3,960000.00 to provide a project report to construct  Vista Nature Resort hotel for Boston Capital Co.
4.The issue of the invoice dated 2012-07-12 for Rs. 5,125000.00 to provide a project report to construct Sigiriya Elephant Resort and Spa  for Boston capital Co.
The total amount involved in the above transactions is Rs. 177, 98,600.00

Boston capital owner Rohan Iriyagolle asserts, those are all  lies in his confession.

Boston capital Co. owner Rohan Abey Iriyagolle was   summoned and questioned repeatedly based on the doubts that had cropped up following examination of the accounts , in regard to the mode of payments made by Boston capital Co.. and how the money for payment was raised .   

Iriyagolle revealed that his Boston Co. has not done any transactions nor  made  payment in respect of invoices issued by NR consultancy Co. He had explained that those invoices mentioned hereinbefore  were forwarded by NR consultancy Co . to falsely show that Co. had transactions with him.

Explaining further Iriyagolle  stated ,after coming to know Lakshman Namal Rajapakse M.P ., following a notification issued by the latter he met Indika Prabath Karunajeewa at NR consultancy Co. during the latter half of the year 2012 when Indika gave him Rs. 15 million cash and advised to include that in his Boston capital Company fund , and to later give back that sum to NR consultancy Firm .

Iriyagolle disclosed that because of the overwhelming power Namal wielded at that time , he agreed , and credited that amount to the Boston capital Co. account No. 0061106000421 at Union Trust bank, Union place .Later as though services were secured from NR consultancy , the money was released on invoices forwarded as follows :

Rs. 15,000,000.00 on 2012-07-24 , and Rs. 3,625,000.00 on 2012-09-17 in respect of the first invoice.
Rs. 3,960,000.00 on 2012-10-05 in respect of second invoice
Rs.7,000,000.00 on 2012 -10-12 in respect of third invoice
Rs. 1,713,000.00 on 2013-02-18 in respect of fourth invoice.

The monies were credited to  savings  account No. 033693240118 in the name of the Co . itself – NR consultancy at Panasia bank ,Kolluptiya . Since doubts arose  that in like manner the other transactions too have been   based on fake invoices, investigations are now under way into those. 

Iriyagolle had also stated though a project report was provided as though a transaction took place as per invoice  , no such projects were carried out by him . While investigating the preparation of the  project report  it was discovered that Nadeesha Wickremeratne has prepared the report .

When she was interrogated ,she disclosed that based on the advice proffered by the Directors and Sujani Bogallagama , she prepared the various project reports. Towards that , she used her experience and the information garnered through the internet , but  in that connection she had not ever met any client  who transacted business. Following these revelations  the court issued an order to Cert. establishment   to examine the computer that was used . The report has still not been received. 

The  details revealed by Iriyagolle  had been confirmed by the cash exchanges that had taken place ,when the accounts of Boston Capital Co. and NR consultancy Pvt. Co were examined .
Following the statement made by Dilrukshi Mahanama , the accountant it has come to light , it is on the advice of the Directors of the company and Sujani Bogollagama the invoices were prepared pertaining to the fees charged for the project reports. She had also stated that Namal M.P. arrives at NR consultancy Co. at Gower street , and transactions take place there. Further ,Indika Prabath Karunajeewa arrives at NR consultancy Co. frequently and he meets Namal there.

Bangla Desh national Ahamed Al Zaman who is elusive .

On 2013-06-13 , Rs. 50 million worth shares of NR consultancy Pvt. Co was sold to Ahamed Al Zaman a Bangla Desh national which ownership was changed by Namal . However since the day the Co. was purchased , Zaman had not changed the Director Board.

On the day following this transaction , that is on 2103-06-14 , Namal had arranged to purchase HelloCorp Co. for Rs. 100 million. Nevertheless , Al Zaman had been unable to show how the sum of Rs. 50 million was acquired.Consequently , doubts have sprung up regarding the mode by which cash capital was raised to purchase HelloCorp Co. 

Based on the information provided by Iriyagolle and investigations so far , at the behest of Namal a sum of Rs. 15 million was laundered  by Iriyagolle on the advice of Indika Prabath Karunajeewa.  It  was also confirmed that Sudharshani Ganegoda and Nithya Senani , the Directors of NR consultancy prepared  the documentation and dealt with those transacting business along with Sujani Bogallagama who aided and abetted them.

After the relevant files with the extracts  pertaining to the investigations  were forwarded to the Attorney General’s department , it was declared following the advice of the AG that the sum of Rs. 15 million that was laundered is an offence committed under section 4 of the prevention of money laundering ACT No.5 of 2006, and  that  the suspects have committed offences  under that Act, based on reports.

In the circumstances , based on the advice of the AG the sum of Rs. 15 million as  revealed by Iriyagolle , the owner of NR consultancy , that is  Namal Rajapakse  M.P. and Indika Prabath Karunajeewa (who has fled the country and is evading courts)  have laundered  the afore stated sum . The Directors of the Co. ,Sudharshan Ganegoda and Nithya Senani Samaranayake , Pavithra Sujani Bogallagama who performed the duties of General manager  have with conspiratorial aims aided and abetted in the transaction , which renders them liable to an offence committed under the penal code of SL 113 (a)  and 102 read with section 3 of the prevention of money laundering Act 5 of 2006. Therefore , in this regard a report has been forwarded to court. 

Consequent upon the information unearthed , Namal Rajapakse M.P who is guilty of money laundering  charges pertaining to the sum of Rs. 15 million , along with Indika Prabath Karunajeewa ( who has fled to England and evading courts), as well as Sudharshana Bandara Ganegoda , Nithya Senani Samaranayake and Sujani Bogallagama,  all of whom are charged with  aiding  and abetting in the transaction were summoned to the FCID , and after their statements were recorded and charges read out they were taken into custody . The suspects who were arrested were today produced in court.

In addition to  the four invoices out of the 25 invoices forwarded by NR consultancy Co. during the investigation , the transactions relating to the  others too are suspicion ridden, it has been revealed. It has also come to light during investigations,  in regard to the other  transactions a large proportion of the colossal  sums of monies have come in from foreigners  .

Al Zaman who was supposed to have bought NR consultancy Pvt. Co. was summoned to record his statement , but he had not responded , and it is suspected that he is keeping away on pressures exerted by Namal. Hence if bail is granted to these suspects who are being produced , it is possible that the other witnesses linked to these investigations can be subjected to pressures . Therefore the honorable court is hereby requested to remand the suspects until 2016-08-29   

By a Lanka e news special correspondent 

Translated by Jeff 

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by     (2016-08-25 20:43:28)

Sri Lanak: Ripped Income Tax Net

by Devan Daniel 

( August 26, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Poor countries struggle to raise adequate tax revenue to pay for public infrastructure. This is a cost of being poor; most people are penniless and much economic activity is in the informal sector, which puts it beyond the taxman’s reach.

Businesses and wealthy people who should pay tax on profit or income don’t feel compelled to do so because government is usually corrupt, infrastructure derelict and nobody else is paying taxes anyway.

Sri Lanak Ripped Income Tax Net by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

‘SriLankan pilots and crew their own whistleblowers’

Captain Bandu Kumbalathara(L) and Captain Ranga Amadoru speak to the media in Colombo yesterday. ­Photographer: Dharmasena Welipitiya


by Sanath Nanayakkare-August 25, 2016, 9:46 pm





You might have experienced late flight arrivals or departures with SriLankan Airlines and other issues, but we have never compromised your safety whatever cost it might have incurred the Airline, and it would be worthy to remember that we ourselves were the whistle-blower at the recent incident in Frankfurt where a pilot under intoxication was stopped from flying his plane to Colombo, to avert possible danger to the plane and the passengers, Captain Ranga Amadoru and Captain Bandu Kumbalathara told the media yesterday at the SriLankan Airlines office in Colombo.


"We reiterate that your National Carrier did extremely well during the incident in Frankfurt and the transparent and effective way we handled it consolidated the flying public's confidence in SriLankan Airlines's 54-year immaculate safety record. We are pleased that SriLankan Airlines has successfully encouraged an open and frank communication among its crew and a no-holds-barred Safety Management System. Without letting it be an unfortunate incident, the Airline was able to do its duty by the nation, the passengers and the shareholders. Otherwise, today we'd be talking not about a 15- hour delay but about a catastrophe".they noted.


Further speaking the captains said," We have 350 pilots and the aviation industry being the most regulated industry, our professional and medical profiles are subject to scrutiny every six months which means our jobs are at risk periodically. This is not the case in other professions. But still you maybe able to pass through all these checks and balances and go on to making a fatal mistake. For example, a pilot who is sober could report to duty afflicted by mental trauma or family and relationship problems endangering the fate of a flight. This is where the best person to evaluate a pilot is a pilot whether they be younger or much junior".


"A first officer informed and alerted authorities without being scared to take any consequences. The pilot in question was stopped from flying the plane. If it were in Colombo, there would have been no problem in deploying another pilot in no time. In Frankfurt, this luxury was not available to us. The crew that had taken the flight to Frankfurt had to get their 12- hour rest before undertaking the next tour of duty. And on top it came the night curfew in Frankfurt. Otherwise we could have reduced the delay to 10 hours," they said.


When The Island Financial Review asked if the Airline had done a survey to find out how the passengers evaluate the 'pilot brand' of SriLankan Airlines after this incident, Captain Amadoru said, "We have done the most sensible thing for the well-being of our passengers by telling the truth ourselves and taking swift action. It's up to the flying public to judge SriLankan Airlines by its best practices".

CID Probe Clears Ekneligoda of LTTE Links

25/08/2016

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Homagama Magistrate on 23 August that investigations based on information received from 10 government institutions had established the fact that missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda had not been in any way linked to the LTTE nor had he in any manner aided and abetted in any activities of the Tiger rebels.

The CID also added that Ekneligoda had also never been the subject of any legal action by any individual or institution.

It was revealed that the CID had obtained confirmation from 10 government institutions including the Inspector General of Police, the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Air Force and the Commander of the Navy, all of whom had cleared Ekneligoda of any involvement in wrongdoing.

The CID said, all the information gathered in investigations confirmed the fact that Ekneligoda had a clean crime-free record and especially had no connection of any nature with terrorist activities..

This case was taken up for hearing at the official residence of the Magistrate of the Homagama Courts in the presence of Acting Magistrate Saroja Wanigasekera.

The 8 Army Intelligence officers who have been taken into custody on suspicion of collusion in the disappearance of Ekneligoda held in remand custody on a Court order, were presented before the Magistrate at the hearing. The suspects were further remanded until 6 September.

By Niranjala Ariyawansha / Ceylon Today

PRECIFAC to question Rishad today

Friday, 26 August 2016

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen will be questioned today by the anti-corruption commission over allegedly extending a Letter of Credit (LC) for the import of a rice consignment of questionable quality.

He was summoned to appear at the police unit of the commission last week but he requested another date to appear before the police investigators of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption (PRECIFAC).

According to PRECIFAC officials, Bathiudeen will be questioned to find out why he extended the LC. The team of police investigators is led by ASP Lalith Abeysekara and assisted by Chief Inspector Geethika Bodhipaksa and Inspector Anuradha.

New secretary to administration ministry has defrauded government - Story with evidence

(Lanka-e-News -24.Aug.2016, 11.55PM)  Among the independent Commissions that were appointed in fulfillment of the aspiration of the masses of the victorious  Rainbow revolution , it is the public service commission that seems to be struck  by rigor mortis even before its death. They do not seem to have a knowledge of the laws of the country. Neither do they seem to know what are the true aspirations of the victorious people who defeated the rogues ,rascals and rowdies of the previous regime. They have neither identified the true ideals and goals nor have they any idea as to what  the people are truly seeking for and on behalf  of the country .

Surely , If they know what are truly expected of them and what they ought to do genuinely , they would not concealRanawakes and Pelpitas of the notorious blue brigand until the civil organizations exposed them .By trying to protect the crooks and the corrupt the commission has plunged itself into irretrievable despair .

It is to be noted the foregoing introduction  is   written to stimulate the focus  of the public on the  action the Commission is going to take following  the latest exposure of corrupt J.J.Ratnasiri appointed by the Public service Commission as the new secretary to the ministry of public administration  closely on the heels of  Dadallage’s disgraceful and abominable drama.

Rathnasiri who was the secretary to  the ministry of home affairs before assuming duties as the secretary to ministry of public administration has misused  three State vehicles on the sly  , based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division, in spite of the fact that  a secretary of a ministry is lawfully entitled to only one State vehicle.

When Rathnasiri took over duties  at the  ministry of home affairs , he received an official  Prado Vehicle bearing No. WPKV  1773 ,along with  fuel supply  and two drivers which are his legitimate entitlement. 

Yet this corrupt State officer has used a blue colored Nissan Teena vehicle bearing No. CAF 5416 and another Nissan Sunny white colored car bearing No. CAG 6068 illegally for his personal and family use on the sly without anybody’s notice.  He had also met the fuel expenses thereof out of State funds , and also  used the  official drivers  unlawfully.

These rackets came to light only when this corrupt  scoundrel  was taken out of the ministry of home affairs and transferred  to the ministry of public administration. The rackets of his  he hid  while he was at the ministry of home affairs were exposed  no sooner than he went out from the Home affairs ministry .

The vehicle No,. CAG 6068 that was used by  Rathnasiri’s wife and his home was returned to the ministry’s fleet only just about a month before he left ministry of home affairs.

However the vehicle bearing No. CAF 5416 ( blue colored Nissan Teena) had disappeared. This was a vehicle which triggered a storm of controversy , and was used by former additional secretary of the defense  ministry , Ms. Damayanthi Jayaratne who fled the country. 

With the new government taking over the reins , Damayanthi was transferred from defense ministry to Finance ministry and from there   to Home affairs ministry. She was  working in the Home affairs ministry for a brief period of ten days only.
 
Damayanthi has been taking this vehicle along with her wherever she went like Mary and her little lamb . Finally the vehicle No .CAF  5416 was with the Home affairs ministry. Since the day  Damayanthi fled to a foreign country , this vehicle that  was   at the Home affairs ministry had gone missing at the ministry.

Rathnasiri an accomplished racketeer had handed over this vehicle to his wife and daughter for their personal use. Rathnasiri has like nobody’s business taken the vehicle home without making any record in any register .Even the fuel supply to it has been met out of State funds through the State vehicle fleet list. The repairs too had been effected through the State vehicles fleet  list .  That is , all  what he had done are absolutely illegal not to mention the  public funds wasted on him, his wife and his family .

Being an  officer of the highest echelons of public service he has committed a grave criminal offence , the least expected of such an officer . Besides  he has done it fearlessly , fraudulently and deliberately , thereby committing criminal  breach of trust.  That is, he  has defrauded the very government he served , outright. 

What’s more ? he had committed this unpardonable offence under the good governance era , which itself is a heinous crime . if these crimes had  been committed  under the lawless corrupt Rajapakse regime it is understandable , for that regime itself was a den of thieves with Alibaba at the helm. But , under the governance of good government which came to power promising to flush out the crooks and cronies from the nooks and crannies, such crooks whether he is a crook ,  crony or a ‘donkey’ cannot be allowed to go unpunished.

In the circumstances , it is the absolute responsibility of the Public service commission we described as suffering from rigor mortis in the earlier paragraphs,  to see to it the culprit is duly punished. Over 6.2 million people for good governance who are not deaf , blind or dumb are intently  watching to  make sure  whether this state entity will truly  act as a commission beneficial to the masses or be a ‘committal’ militating against them.

Connected reports 
1. Good governance government welcomes  two serpents into its bosoms
2. The PSC secretary who appointed Anusha Pelpita the Sil cloth racketeer as a ministry additional secretary is also a crook..!
 

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by     (2016-08-25 02:57:11)

Israel lobby smears Black lawmaker for meeting Palestinians

Florida Senator Dwight Bullard has faced onslaught from pro-Israel groups for joining this Dream Defenders delegation to Palestine in May. (via Instagram)

Rania Khalek-24 August 2016

Dwight Bullard, a progressive African American state senator representing Florida’s 39th district, is under attack from Israel lobby groups for visiting the Israeli-occupied West Bank in May on a delegation hosted by theDream Defenders, a group that supports the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

Unbowed, Bullard has told The Electronic Intifada that he witnessed “segregation and injustice” in Palestine.

Leading the attack against Bullard is the pro-Israel group Miami United Against BDS.

In a press release last week, it accused Bullard of meeting with “terrorists.”

“Bullard took a trip in May to territories under Palestinian control where he met with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an organization listed by the State Department since 1997 as a foreign terrorist organization,” the group stated.

The US and Israel consider virtually all Palestinian political factions and resistance organizations to be “terrorist” groups.

A desperate smear

Dwight Bullard

Pro-Israel groups are pointing to photos posted to social media during the trip as proof that Bullard met with the PFLP.

In the photo at the top of this article, originally posted to the Dream Defenders’ Instagram account, the delegation is seen posing for the camera in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem with Mahmoud Jiddah, identified in the caption as their tour guide.

Jiddah is an African Palestinian who was a member of the PFLP in the 1960s. He was arrested with his brother and cousin in 1968 and spent 17 years in Israeli prison, accused of planting bombs, before being released in a prisoner exchange.

Today Jiddah is a leader in the African Palestinian community and works as a tour guide in the Old City of Jerusalem.

He can be seen in this 2011 video produced by the Alternative Information Center, talking about his own life and the history of his community in Jerusalem.

“Meeting with the Afro-Palestinian community in East Jerusalem is a must for anyone seeking to understand the continued Palestinian struggle for liberation,” Ahmad Abuznaid from Dream Defenders told The Electronic Intifada.

“The Dream Defenders did not meet with the PFLP, but this attack on the senator shows the true desperation of the efforts to hold back our movement,” he added.

Speaking with The Electronic Intifada, Bullard also rejected the accusation that he met with terrorists.

“When they showed me the picture [of Jiddah], I was like, you mean the guy who gave us a tour of Old Jerusalem? He’s a tour guide,” said Bullard, laughing.

Pro-Israel groups are also outraged over Bullard’s meeting with Omar Barghouti, a Palestinian human rights defender and a co-founder of the BDS movement, which Miami United Against BDS calls “anti-Semitic.”

Amnesty International, among other organizations, has expressed concern at Israel’s threats to retaliate against Barghouti for his political activities. In apparent fulfillment of those threats, Israel has effectively imposed a travel ban on him.

“It is unthinkable to accept that there is someone in the Florida legislature who is willing to meet openly with terrorist groups and other hateful organizations whose values are diametrically opposed to those of Floridians and all Americans. It is our duty to condemn this form of hate and defeat it,” Joe Zevuloni, an Israeli American businessman and founder of Miami United Against BDS, said in the press release.

Zevuloni did not return The Electronic Intifada’s calls seeking comment.

The only national group to throw its weight behind the protest so far is The Israel Project, a politically connected right-wing organization that specializes in feeding anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim propaganda to journalists and policy makers.

“Any Florida state legislator who would go to Israel and choose to meet with those groups, it’s more than troubling, it’s deeply disturbing,” Ken Bricker, The Israel Project’s Southeast regional director, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

“I have to wonder if the constituents in his district [are] aware of who he is and what he believes in,” added Bricker.

Bullard was also attacked as a supporter of hatred by Uri Pilichowski, a West Bank settler.

“Floridians should know about Dwight Bullard’s associations with groups that seek the destruction of Israel and the Jewish People and call for Bullard to cut those ties,” Pilichowski wrote in The Times of Israel.

Picking the “wrong” side

Bullard told The Electronic Intifada that he went on the trip to “develop an understanding” of the Palestinian side that is often missing from the mainstream narrative. He added that he is willing to go on a trip hosted by a pro-Israel group as well, though he is unhappy with the reaction he has received from such groups since his return.

“Had I gone on an AIPAC trip or toured with the [Anti-Defamation League] there would be no outrage or Palestine group protesting outside my office,” argued Bullard, referring to two of the major national pro-Israel lobby groups. “It’s only a news story if you pick the wrong side.”

American lawmakers routinely travel to Israel on delegations hosted by Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC – it’s practically a requirement for politicians at the national level.

Bullard was especially frustrated by the demands from Israel’s supporters that he shut out constituents based on their political views.

“As a public servant I’ve meet with a number of groups that I fundamentally disagree with on 85 percent of issues but I still meet with them. I’m a strong pro-choice advocate but I meet with all the pro-life folks,” he said. “And we go all through it on why I can’t support their issues. I won’t close the door on them.”

Attacking Black leaders

The smear campaign against Bullard is just the latest fault line between pro-Israel groups and African American activists and leaders affiliated with the Movement for Black Lives.

Early this month, pro-Israel groups attempted to discipline MBL for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in its platform.

The Dream Defenders, which endorsed the MBL platform and whose members helped draft it, stronglydenounced the reaction from Zionist groups.

After meeting with Palestinians who support BDS and seeing the repressive conditions they live under, Bullard has come to understand the boycott as part of their struggle for their civil rights.

“I think what people need to do is recognize why an African American would feel a sense of alignment with oppressed people,” said Bullard.

“It’s not just hearing about injustices happening to the Palestinian people. When you see it first hand, that’s a game changer,” he added.

“The fact that it was so in your face, you realize your own privilege even in circumstances related to race. 

We talk about driving while Black [in the US]. The idea that [in Palestine] you have to be carrying a particular ID in order to move freely within spaces in a place that you call home, that stuck with me,” he said.

Bullard was so disturbed by what he witnessed, he felt compelled to wear a kuffiyeh – a Palestinian checkered headscarf – at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last month, “to show solidarity with Palestine,” he said.

A Jewish Telegraph Agency reporter noticed Bullard’s scarf and snapped a photo of him that was published with a story on Bullard’s trip to Palestine.

“There’s segregation and injustice going on over there,” said Bullard, “and in the words of Dr. King, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Bullied into voting against BDS

Florida is one of several states to have passed anti-BDS laws that bar state investment in, or business with, companies that boycott Israel.

The Florida law is especially draconian in that it makes no distinction between “Israel” and Israeli-occupied territories, effectively punishing even those who boycott goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which even the US recognizes are illegal under international law.

Bullard initially opposed the anti-BDS legislation, voting against it twice in subcommittee meetings because he viewed it as a violation of free speech that he said “screams un-American.”

However, Bullard told The Electronic Intifada he was ultimately “bullied” into voting for the law.

“It was the first time I felt pressured to vote in a particular way,” he recounted, adding, “there are probably three or four votes that I’ve taken in my tenure in the legislature that I’m very uncomfortable with having taken.” The anti-BDS vote “is easily in the top three,” he said.

Bullard served in Florida’s lower house from 2008, until he was elected to the senate in 2012.

Israel as a wedge issue

The Miami Herald endorsed Bullard early this week, indicating that the accusations have gained little traction.

Still, Bullard’s district in South Florida is home to a well-organized Jewish voter base that is older and strongly pro-Israel.

In order to capitalize on this, Miami United Against BDS is organizing a protest outside Bullard’s office on 28 August, two days before the Democratic primary election for his senate seat in a redrawn district.

Bullard’s opponent is Andrew Korge, the son of a major donor to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Korge has tried to turn Bullard’s visit to Palestine into a wedge issue on at least one occasion, during a homeowner’s association meeting last month, according to Bullard.

Rejecting the insinuation that he’s anti-Semitic, Bullard said, “I’ve had a pretty solid relationship with Jewish groups. I’ve advocated for and represented Jewish causes, Holocaust memorial and education funding.”

But when it comes to showing support for Palestine, Bullard observed, “all of that easily gets forgotten.”