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.