Rs. 300 m forex deal - CB sends charge sheet to Ravi Karunanayake

The Sri Lanka Central Bank’s forex department has sent a charge sheet to MP Ravi Karunanayake regarding an alleged Rs. 300 million forex deal, our sister papers reported on Thursday. Quoting banking sources the Daily News said that an investigation by the Bank’s forex division has revealed that the funds amounting to US$ 3 million had been provided by a pro-LTTE businessman living in the US. The funds had been obtained under fictitious names.

The sources said the offenders in cases of undeclared forex transactions are liable to pay a fine at least three times the original amount. Quoting political sources the Daily News said this is one more instance of a political conspiracy to protect the LTTE and tarnish the Government’s image. They alleged that elements in the Opposition were acting according to the LTTE agenda.

Many UNP members were unhappy over this state of affairs, they said. “Many MPs would ensure that the party leadership does not fall into the wrong hands.”