CID commences probe

NY Times allegations: Summoned Chairman of the National Movement of Web Journalists...

The Criminal Investigation Department had commenced recording statements in connection with the New York Times report, which alleged that a Chinese Company funded the election campaign of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2015.

At least US$7.6 mn had been dispensed from China...

Following the article, the National Movement of Web Journalists had lodged a complaint with the FCID on June 29 requesting a probe into the allegation. The investigation into the complaint was then handed over to the CID. Accordingly, the CID had summoned the Chairman of the National Movement of Web Journalists to record a statement over the complaint last morning.

The CID recorded the statement from Chaturanga de Alwis for more than two hours. It was reported that several pieces of evidence collected during the investigation had already been submitted to the Attorney General’s Department by the CID. The New York Times reported that at least US$7.6 million had been dispensed from China Harbour’s account at Standard Chartered Bank to affiliates of Mr Rajapaksa’s campaign.

The article written by Maria Abi-habib of The New York Times said though Chinese officials and analysts had insisted that China’s interest in the Hambantota Port was purely commercial, Sri Lankan officials said from the start, the intelligence and strategic possibilities of the port’s location were part of the negotiations.