CoI public hearing on Rakna Lanka Ltd:

Witness gives false evidence

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The two- day public hearing held for the first time on allegations against the State- owned Rakna Araksha Lanka Limited (RALL) by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges, brought out incriminating evidence while creating confusion over several other issues due to the a witness giving false evidence.

Examining witnesses called in for the two days, it surfaced that hundreds of employees were deployed in Kotte, Dehiwala, Kolonnawa and Maharagama areas for the Presidential campaign of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Further examination of witnesses is expected to reveal more details proving evidence collected by the CoI at the next public hearing scheduled for September 17 and 18.

Evidence was led before High Court Judges Padman Surasena, Amendra Seneviratna, Vikum Kaluarachchi, Gihan Kulatunga and former Auditor General B.A. Premathilake.Nearly ten witnesses were questioned on both days by State Counsel Janaka Bandara, President's Counsel Anil Silva and Ali Sabry on behalf of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, attorney-at-law Sumedha Mahawanniarachchi on behalf of former Chief Executive Officer Major General (Rtd) K.B. Egodawela and former Chairman Major General (Rtd) Palitha Fernando, Senior Lawyer Anuja Premaratne on behalf of Duminda Silva.

The special police team of 80 officers lead by ASP Lalith Abeysekara have found documentary evidence supporting these allegations.

The allegations were on state fund misuse and abuse of power by this state-owned subsidiary, established during the previous Government. Allegations, based on evidence are three- fold. Using nearly 500 employees of RALL for the recent Presidential campaign of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, employing nearly 150 Civil Defence Force personnel and the misuse of Rs. six million for the deployment of these personnel. The allegations also included that Civil Defence Force personnel employed as a replacement for RALL staff, were requested to wear a different uniform instead of their usual ones.

On the first day, when questioned RALL General Manager, Maj.Gen. (rtd) Gamini Jayasundara, following the cross examination by state Counsel Janaka Bandara, agreed that RALL employees were asked to attend the Presidential campaigns of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on several occasions during the last few months of the campaign which ended in early January , 2015.Jayasundara said he sent letters to employees deployed in the outstations to come to Colombo on specific days. The instructions were given on the directives of RALL Chief Executive Officer, Maj.Gen. (rtd) Egodawela, according to Jayasundara.

He could not give the exact number of RALL employees who were deployed.Meanwhile on the first public hearing, he stated that he was unaware of the requirement before January 2015. Contradicting this statement on the second day, Jayasundara apologised to the Commission and confirmed that he was aware of the requirement from the beginging.

The Commission chaired by High Court Judge, Padman Surasena advised Jayasundara against giving false evidence and reprimanded him that despite being a senior citizen and a recognised retired senior Army officer he had lied and requested him to prepare for explanation at the next hearing. He was permitted to be represented by a lawyer.

In his evidence, Jayasundara said that employees called from Uva, Sabaragamuwa and the Southern provinces were from the Land Force division. The Maritime division had been informed by another senior officer.The Chief Accountant, accountants in charge of Land Force and Maritime divisions confirmed most of the evidence given by Jayasundara. A Sector Manager (Western Province Unit 2 of RALL) was also questioned about employees being used for the election campaign.

A RALL Junior Security Officer, Rajapaksa attached to the Land Force division said he received nearly a Rs. 14,000 salary increase after participating in the election campaign. He said that his team was provided with food and lodging as well as T-shirts and caps with promotional logos of former President Mahinda Rajapksa. "It was too small for me so I could not wear it," he said. Some of the people had campaigned in civils while others wore the promotional T-shirts and caps.The Chief Accountant, accountants and a young computer operator told the commission that they were initially reluctant to attend the election campaign but due to fear of being questioned for not having attended the campaign decided to attend itQuestions were also raised on arms procurement by RALL from the Sri Lanka Army through the Ministry of Defence and two former directors of RALL, Mahinda Saliya and Siripala Hettiarachchi were questioned with regard to this.

Former Secretary of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, former officials of the RALL top management, former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, Dehiwala- Mt. Lavinia Mayor, Dhanasiri Amarathunga, Kotte Mayor, Janaka Ranawaka, former Provincial Council Minister, Upali Kodikara were present at the CoI.