FCID questions former Presidential Advisor on Buddhist Affairs
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) questioned former Presidential Advisor Ven. Watinapaha Somananda Thera in connection with a Rs. 600 million embezzlement case.
Police Spokesman, ASP Ruwan Gunasekera, said that the Thera, one of the advisers on Buddhist Affairs to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was y questioned on Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. by investigating officers to verify if the funds spent on white sil clothing material for distribution among Buddhist devotees, as part of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s lavish election campaign, were in fact siphoned off from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC).
It has been revealed that the Ven. Thera had coordinated the distribution of the clothing material, which came under heavy criticism as giving election bribes, during the 2015 Presidential election campaign.
The police spokesman said that statements have been recorded by the FCID from several others including the Thera in this connection.
