Rs 600m embezzlement case :
Bhikkhu Ex Presidential Advisor grilled
by Manjula Fernando
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) questioned former
Presidential Advisor Ven. Watinapaha Somananda Thera in connection with
a Rs. 600 million embezzlement case.
The Thera, one of the advisers on Buddhist Affairs to former
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was yesterday questioned from 8.30 a.m. to
3.00 p.m. by investigating sleuths to verify if the funds spent on white
clothing material to be distributed among Buddhist devotees, as part of
Rajapaksa’s lavish election campaign, were in fact siphoned off from the
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), Police Spokesman, ASP
Ruwan Gunasekera, said.
The Thera told the Sunday Observer, minutes after his extensive
questioning session ended, “I was questioned over the distribution of
white clothing material Sil Redi. These are the results of good
governance.”
It has been revealed that he had coordinated the distribution of the
clothing material, which came under heavy criticism as giving election
bribes, during the 2015 Presidential election run up.
The police spokesman said the Thera was among several others from
whom statements have been recorded by the FCID in this connection. |