Golden Key depositors demand:

Sicille Kotelawala must appear before Colombo MC

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The Golden Key All Depositors' Association, the victimised depositors of the Golden Key money scam yesterday emphasised that Sicille Kotelawala must appear before the Colombo Magistrate Court without sending the lawyers representing her.

"Sicille Kotelawala is facing severe offences in the 'most wanted' category with a red notice issued by Interpol. How can such a person be treated in a private hospital without being kept in custody at the Prison Hospital?," questioned Dushyanthi Hapugoda, President of the Golden Key All Depositors' Association.

As Hapugoda pointed out a person who could not be found by Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies for over seven years, needs to be kept under more secured custody to ensure justice to those victimised.

She explained that the case was heard at the Judge's Chamber in the Magistrate's Court without being open even to the aggrieved parties. She said the Association expressed its opposition at the Magistrate's Court through their lawyer Sumudu Hewage. She also alleged that the court did not summon them to be present although several members of the Association appeared at the Court with their lawyer. Kotelawa's action is unfair by the aggrieved depositors some of whom had died of kidney failures and heart diseases as they were unable to unable to afford medical treatment as they had lost all their savings in the Golden Key," said Hapugoda. According to her, 38 members of the Golden Key All Depositors' Association had committed suicide after they lost all their deposits and Kotelawala was responsible for their deaths. 'The largest fraud by Kotelawala and other top members is in the Golden Key. We strongly believe that it will be investigated by courts without delay," she said.

At the timeSicille Kotelawala disappeared from Sri Lanka in early 2009 she is reported to have taken Rs.40 million as her gratuity payment from the Golden Key Company, alleged Hapugoda.

"It is the Government that compensated the victimised Golden Key depositors. However now is the right time for Kotelawala and those responsible in the company to start paying compensation," she said.