Is Maithripala connected to illegal cash transactions?

by A special correspondent

In what may seem to be a major twist in the on-going Presidential Election propaganda campaign, suspicion surrounds over the allegations made against the New Democratic Front (NDF)Candidate, whether he is Fonnected to a 'case' worth millions in foreign exchange.

Following a revelation made by a man identified as Tharindu Lakshan Chandravasa of Mount Lavinia, who lodged a complaint with the police on December 17 and also lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department(CID) on December 19, the CID initiated a full scale inquiry.

The person lodged a complaint saying that he was entrusted with a briefcase stacked with bundles of foreign currency by a man identified as Athula Weeraratne, a resident of Nugegoda.

According to initial investigations Athula Weeraratne, who was his uncle (father's younger brother), had handed over the briefcase full of money on December 14 to be kept in his custody.

It was unclear whether Tharindu had any clue that the briefcase contained one million Swiss Francs and 200, 000 US Dollars which the value amounting to Rs.150 million at the time he accepted it.

Realisation dawned on Tharindu that it contained nothing but cash only when his uncle's daughter came to collect two bundles of notes from the case a few days later.

Startled with this discovery (as he had mentioned in his confession to the police), Tharindu immediately decided to inform the police about the money bag, as he felt it was a crime to keep such a huge amount of foreign currency in his possession without prior permission and also he felt that he was aiding and abetting a grave crime.

A team of CID officials accompanied by the agents of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank visited his house in Mount Lavinia and took the cash into custody.

The police however took the fingerprints on the bag as well as the bundles of bills.

A statement was recorded from Tharindu who revealed that his cousin (Athula Weeraratne's daughter) was apparently the girlfriend of common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena's son Daham Sirisena.

And that the bag of money that was given to him was meant to be spent for Sirisena's political campaign.

The police acting on these information immediately sent a team to Athula Weeraratne's residence in Nugegoda and found to their consternation that he and his family had vacated the house and their whereabouts are yet to be ascertained.

In the meantime the CID with the assistance of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank informed over 30 local and foreign banks operating in Sri Lanka to be vigilant of any cash transfers involving Athula Weeraratne, his daughter or Tharindu Chandrawasa. The personal bank accounts of these individuals were immediately ordered to be frozen and to be checked for any suspicious fund transfers with any foreign elements.

Minister of Information Keheliya Rambukwella at a recent press briefing alleged that there was credible evidence to prove that the bag of money was received by the NDF Candidate from an undisclosed Tiger diaspora group overseas, to spend for his campaign against President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said all factors connected to this shady transfer will be brought to light in the near future to unmask the real face of the NDF candidate, who had sought assistance from elements backing terrorism.

Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana responding to journalists on Friday said that a full scale investigation was underway to inquire into all aspects of the case, where possession of such huge amounts of foreign currency without permission from the Exchange Controller was illegal.

Ruling out any connections to the NDF Candidate with the money bag case so far, SSP Rohana said the police were continuing investigations.

The police has also informed the Controller of Immigration and Emigration about the identities of the missing persons so that they could be apprehended if they make an attempt to leave the country.

The authorities will be on high alert to prevent the escape of these individuals.

All ports in the island have been informed of their identities to thwart any attempt by these individuals to flee the country. Investigators are yet to record any statement from NDF Candidate Maithripala Sirisena and his son regarding the case, he further said.