FCID To File Further ‘B’ Reports In Courts Against The Renegade Wimal

by Nirmala Kannangara

• Houses given for his and his wife’s siblings from Kahathuduwa and Mattegoda Housing Schemes
• Family’s sole asset was a four perch land in Pahala Biyanwila, Kadawatha at the time he entered parliament in 2000
• Vehicles had been hired from people known to Weerawansa but was never used for SEC work

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is to file further ‘B’ reports in courts against the renegade Marxist Weerasangilige Wimal Weerawansa for his alleged involvement into many other large scale scandalous corruptions that has cost the country millions of rupees during the Rajapaksa regime.

Weerawansa who is now in remand prison for misusing public funds, was operating a small communication centre in Kadawatha and his family’s sole asset was a four perch land in Millegahawatte, Pahala Biyanwila, Kadawatha at the time he entered parliament in 2000 from JVP. Since the monthly remuneration as an MP had to be given for the party as the JVP’s policy decision, his sole earnings came from the communication income. However after extending his support to Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2008, he became a multi- millionaire in no time which is yet to be investigated by the investigators. It was only after the fall of the previous regime, upon receiving complaints, the FCID, the Bribery Commission and the Presidential Investigation Commission initiated investigations as to how this wheeler-dealer made money through various nefarious deals.

Weerawansa who is famous for his breast-beating displays of patriotism in political platforms portraying himself as a patriotic and clean politician despite his connections to corrupt activities is to face a lot consequences unless politicians in the present regime interfere with the ongoing investigations.

The former Minister of Housing and Construction is also under fire for misusing a sum exceeding Rs. 60 million to give houses for his and his wife’s siblings from Kahathuduwa and Mattegoda Housing Schemes obtaining a mere three to ten percent value of the cost and waiving off the balance, which was later taken over by the owning company Ocean View Development (Pvt.) Ltd., which is a government owned construction company where 57 per cent is owned by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and 43 percent by the Urban Development Authority (UDA).

According to reliable sources from Ocean View Development, several millions had been spent to construct the houses given to Weerawansa siblings and the company is now facing a yeoman task to sell them. “As Weerawansa from the beginning targeted to give these houses to his and his wife’s siblings, they had been constructed with high quality materials and larger than the normal houses. They got the houses not at market value but less than 10% of the total cost waiving off the balance. After this government came into power the management wanted them to pay the balance and they responded saying that they do not have the money. When their identity cards were checked, Weerawansa’s brother’s designation was given as a mason. So how can a mason pay Rs.15 million to the house he had been ‘gifted’. Somehow we were able to get back the houses. Since we cannot sell the houses for a lesser amount considering its floor area and the  high quality materials that were used, the price range is between Rs. 10 million to Rs.15 million. As these are situated in Kahatuduwa and Mattegoda, we have so far failed to sell them. It is a loss to the company,” sources claimed.

Weerawansa is also in the midst of much controversy for having two passports and his wife for providing false information to obtain a passport. The Leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) is accused of misusing funds from Housing and Construction Ministry to ‘print’ diaries and calendars while his involvement in violating government procurement guidelines to give contract to his supporters are amongst few, he had a direct hand in making millions of rupees.

According to the ‘B’ report FCID filed in courts, Weerawansa in his statement to the FCID had stated that he was not aware that neither his relatives nor his friends and party members had been given vehicles using State Engineering Corporation (SEC) funds.

According to the SEC Sectional Heads, these vehicles had been given to Weerawansa siblings and friends in the guise of assigning them to the sectional heads.

“In order to carry out the work in our sites, we made requests to the then Deputy General Manager (Human Resources and Administration) Samantha Lokuhennadige to provide us with vehicles. Obtaining our request letters, Lokuhennadige allegedly hired the vehicles without calling tenders in the guise of official use and had assigned them to Weerawansa’s siblings, friends and party members and maintained records to show that the vehicles were given to the Sectional Heads on their requests,” one of the Sectional Heads said on condition of anonymity.

According to the sources, when this irregularity was brought to the notice of the then Ministry Secretary Pavulu Hewage Lionel Wimalasiri Perera who had the authority to take action against such irregularities, had remained idle.

“Wimalasiri Perera was a stooge of Weerawansa and he gave his blessings to this racket as he too obtained one of these 40 luxury vehicles for his wife’s use. Lokuhennadige too was loyal to Weerawansa as he was offered the post of Deputy General Manager (Human Resources and Administration) after Weerawansa became the subject minister after he was allegedly sacked from Sri Lanka Army because of his involvement in a financial fraud,” sources alleged.

However, Wimalasiri Perera in his statement to the FCID has said that he too was not aware how SEC hired vehicles during his tenure and that he has not given any approval to do so. He has further stated that if people who are not entitled to a vehicle or any other outsider had been granted a vehicle it is illegal and that the officer who released the vehicles and the person who authorised such activities have to take the responsibility for such frauds.

“How can Perera now claim that he was unaware of this vehicle issue as we have given him in writing about what was happening at SEC then. After obtaining one of the 40 vehicles for his wife’s personal use and to be in good books of Weerawansa, he remained silent and now giving statements that he was not aware of the racket,” sources added.

Weerawansa was appointed as the Housing and Construction Minister in 2011 and according to the documentary evidence, the vehicles in questions had been hired in 2012. For year 2014 alone, SEC had paid Rs. 41.073 million for the monthly rental, fuel, driver’s allowances, over time and incidental expenses.

According to the SEC sources, most of these 40 vehicles had been hired from people known to Weerawansa but was never used for SEC work.

GP-4894 had been used by Ridma Vimukthi Weerawansa, youngest son of Sumanawathi Weerawansa who is Wimal Weerawansa’s eldest sister. Lokuhennadige had hired the vehicle from N. A. Dayananda and had paid a rental of Rs.3.123 million (October 2011 to October 2014).

KI-4648 had been given to Shahsi Weerawansa’s eldest sister Thanuja Nishanthi’s husband Bombuwala  Disawage Ananda Ashoka Kumara and had been hired from Isuru Travels and Tours. He had also used another vehicle GR 5774 and the total rental was Rs.1.994 million (February 2012 to November 2014).  In addition to this he had used KB- 6038. Hired from M. B. D. N. Gunawardena on May 9, 2011 for a monthly rental of Rs. 38,000 but on October 1, 2014, the same vehicle had been re-hired through a new agreement with S. T. Edirisinghe for Rs. 50,000. He had also used HQ- 4964, GR- 5774, KA- 7440 for his personal work and the rental was Rs.1.994 million (February 2012 to November 2014).

GY-4635 had been given to Wimal Weerawansa’s youngest sister Nilani Weerawansa’s husband Palleperu Gamage Ananda Priyadarshana and had been hired from Gayani Padmaperuma. The rental was Rs.592, 161(March 2014 to October 2014).

KD-4049 had been used by Weerawansa’s eldest sister Sumanawathi Weerawansa’s eldest son Lalith Pushpakumara and had been hired from Isuru Tours and Travels. In addition, he had also used GK- 5073, KB- 7053, KW- 6956, GK- 5073 and KP- 4802 to which the rental was Rs.3.193 million (October 2011 to September 2014).

JL-8058 had been used by Weerawansa’s youngest sister Nilani Weerawansa and the rental for the duration it was used was Rs.219, 547.

KT-2884 used by Lal Kularatne(NFF member Western Provincial Council) It had allegedly used to promote NFF work in Pannipitiya, Bellanwila, Horana, Wadduwa and Colombo. This vehicle had been obtained from N. Sriyani Perera, but had never been released for SEC official. He had also used HK-8877 and Rs.2.778 million had been paid as the rental (April 2011 to October 2014).

KR-7730 had been used by Dushmantha Abeysinghe Parliamentary Affairs Secretary to Weerawansa. The vehicle was hired from Nuwan Indika Perera  (NFF member) on February 14, 2012 and had given it to Weerawansa’s Parliamentary Secretary. On March 13, 2014, Rs. 38,000 had been paid as February rental  while for the month of March the rental had been increased to Rs. 56,240 which had been settled on May 2, 2014 through cheque Nos: 172314 and 172506 respectively.

KQ-7961 had been used by Sampath Thilakaratne and he had also used GR -5774, KT-9085, KI-1610, KS-0097 hired from Isuru Travels and Tours. The rental was Rs.3.616 million (February 2011 to November 2011).

JO-5953 was used by Udaya Devamulla, (Co-ordinating Secretary). He had also sued JE-6557. Rental was Rs.2.68 million (February 2013 to September 2014).

GI- 4501 had been used by Weerawansa’s Co-ordinating Secretary Ranjith Wickremasinghe and had hired the vehicle from his sister, Vajira Manohaari Wickremasinghe. He had also used KA-6972 and JN-9942 and the total hiring charge was Rs.3.706 million (October 2012 to November 2014).

KQ-9762 had been used by A. N. S. Mendis (Public Relations Officer) and was hired from Isuru Travels and Tours. He had also used KQ-0976, KA-9447, KP-3768 and KD-0158 and the total rental was Rs.2.535 million (October 2011 to October 2014).

PE-3626 had been used by Chief Inspector Sisila Herath and was hired from Isuru Travels and Tours. He had also used PC-6171, 252-4908, PC-8430, PF-1277, EA-0260, KD-1494, EA-0004 and PF-3770.

KU-9867 had been used by Suresh Indika (Director UDA) and was hired from K. S. E. G. M. Kulathilake on November 5, 2013 for a monthly rental of Rs. 38,000. On a request made by Kulathilake on May 28, 2014, the monthly rental had been increased to Rs. 45,000 by former Chairman Jagath Perera without consulting any officials.

JE-6557  had been driven by Sampath Madhuranga who was not a SEC employee. This vehicle had been assigned to an unknown party but the payments had been made by the SEC and Rs. 478,004 had been paid from January to October 2014. This vehicle too had not been used for any SEC work.

PD-2563 had been used by Ven. Ittekande Saddhatissa Thera of Ravana Balakaya who was the then Director, National Housing Development Authority (NHDA). Although he had been given a separate vehicle from NHDA, he had been given this vehicle as well. This had been hired from D. S. V. R. Karunaratne for a rental of Rs. 38,000 but through another agreement this had been increased to Rs. 69,000. This vehicle too had not been used for any SEC work and the rental Rs. 689,000 from January to October 2014.

HN-4098 had been used by Weerawansa’s Co-ordinating Secretary Dharmapala. This vehicle had been hired from D. V. S. R. Karunaratne and had never been used for any SEC work. SEC had paid Rs. 310,000 as hiring charges from January to August, 2014

GI-0001 had been used by Sumith Chanaka, Co-ordinating Secretary to Weerawansa. This had been hired from K. G. C. Damayanthi for Rs. 35,000 and had not been used for any SEC related work. Rs. 139,000 had been paid for this vehicle for four months from June to September, 2014.

GN-5767 had been given to Manju, Private Secretary to the Secretary, National Freedom Front (NFF) Piyasiri Wijenayake. This had been hired from Ted Lanka and had not used for any SEC work. SEC had paid Rs. 611,156 as hiring charges from January to October, 2014. Piyasiri Wijenayake had also used KK-3081, 64- 3225, HA- 2189, KA- 4685 and the rental for the period from May 2013 to October 2014 was Rs.2.212 million.

KM- 0882 used by D.B.R. Jayawardena- NFF supporter and the rental was Rs.1.289 million for the period from July 2013 to October 2014. It is alleged that this vehicle had been hired from the same person and had not been used for any SEC work. 54-5678 used by L.C. Kumara- NFF supporter and was alleged to have hired from him for Rs.1.175 million for the period from July 2013 to November 2014.

KO-5871 had been used by K.D.U. Jayasena- NFF supporter and had been hired from the user.  Rental for the period from March 2013 to October 2014 was Rs.825, 872. Not used for SEC work.

PC- 2896 had been used by B.E. Gamage. He had also used PC-9097 and the total rental was Rs.4.098 million (November 2012 to November 2014)

KC-2431 used by W.H.K.P. Wijesekera and the rental was Rs.1.858 million (March 2014 to October 2014).

GQ-9528 had been used by Pradeep Wijesekera (Coordinating Secretary).

KL-0812 had been used  by the then Housing Ministry Secretary Wimalasiri Perera’s wife’s personal use. Hired from Ted Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and the rental was Rs.2.023 million(July 2013 to October 2014).

PC-9097 had been used by Indika Prasad.

KK-8941 used by Prasanna sanjeewa Tennakoon (Media Coordinator). The rental paid was Rs.2.197 million (January 2012 to September 2014).

JR-5353 had been used by Ishika Nadee Perera of the ministerial staff. She had also used 300-5690. Rental was Rs.971, 169 (December 2013 to November 2014).

KH-0883 had been used by an unknown party and had been hired from M. B. H. Muthukumara for a monthly rental of Rs. 60,000.

301-6830 used for Deputy Minister, Lasantha Alagiyawanna’s official work in Nittambuwa, Mahara and Gampaha. The vehicle had been obtained from W. M. P. Bandara of Yakkala for Rs. 38,000 but interestingly, the latter’s name had been noted as the vehicle driver. Although this had been used for Lasantha Alagiyawanna’s official work, it had never been used for SEC work.

HA-0800 was used by B.M.J. Mendis (Management Assistant National Housing Development Authority). He had also used 65-5231 and KJ-2376 and the rental was Rs. 2.298 million (June 2011to October 2014).

KO-1375 used by P. Vitharana. Alleged to have used for the then Chairman’s work. CAB-9727 used by an unknown party. The vehicle had been hired from A. R. Wickremasinghe of Athurugiriya and the rental was Rs. 555,252 (February 2014 to November, 2014).

250-4713 was driven by R. S. Perera and R. Eranga who were not attached to SEC. Hired from D. M. Karunaratne for a monthly rental of Rs. 38,000.

GF-0787 used by Nissanka and the rental was Rs.646, 000 (November 2013 to August 2014). LJ- 7909 used by A.H. Kulatunge and is alleged to be the owner of thevehile. The rental was Rs.4.782 million (May 2012 to September 2014).According to a letter dated May 2, 2012, Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna had made a request to Chairman SEC Jagath Perera to hire this lorry for SEC work and to release it to his Mahara office for Gampaha District Development work.

252-1933 used by Senaka Priyadharshana Ramanayake who is also the owner of the vehicle.  Running charts had not been maintained. Deputy General Manager (Human Resources and Administration) Lokuhennadige had requested Additional Transport Manager by letter dated January 1, 2012 to hire this vehicle for the Deputy Minister’s official work. Later this had been used for monitoring work of Basil Rajapaksa’s Maganeguma project. Rental was Rs.4.34 million (March 2011 to November 2014).

PF-3072 used by an unknown party. Other details were not available.