MOM WANTS ME TO QUIT POLITICS
High-speed Train Project
Denying the bribery allegation over the high-speed railway project, State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe said that his mother had asked him to leave politics due to continual issues coming towards him.
He said that he was forced into politics; however, he had scored well and secured more votes gradually.
The State Minister said that though it was difficult to do politics he couldn’t give up and let down his voters.
He said that it was unfortunate that anyone could throw allegations by holding a press conference and he was distressed by the issue as he was innocent.
“To approve the project or whatever they have said, that the State Minister had asked for a bribe, and that is thuggery.
“Most investors come and they want to take a picture with me. I’m a person who is very accessible. Anyone can meet me. I’m not scared. But now I’m scared.
“If I meet you what you would tell me next time? Why should I ask a bribe if I’m not involved with the BOI? he said.
Ceylon High-speed Railway (CHSR) Limited had submitted an application to 488 million Euro mega integrated high-speed train manufacturing plant project in October 2016 to the Board of Investment (BOI) for approval.
However a year later, the project was sent to be evaluated by the Cabinet appointed Single Window Investment Appraisal Committee (SWIAC).
The director board recently in a press briefing allegedly charged that Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama and State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe kept delaying the project seeking a ten percent of the investment as a bribe.
MP Senasinghe said the project was deferred as the investor had failed to submit the required business proposal requested by
The Board of Directors of the said company has been given several opportunities to provide necessary documents but they failed to do so
the SWIAC. He claimed that such a company was nonexistent and there was no Italian investor, although the Board of Directors claimed so.
He said that the board of Directors of the said company had been given several opportunities to provide necessary documents but they failed to do so.
He added they still could provide the requested details.
“When asked the director, where the money was coming from he responded that it was a secret. What is the secret about the project proposal and the financial sources? He said that Italians are involved in the project, which is another lie. There are charges against the whole family in this project. And they are making charges against us. Anybody can bring a proposal to the BOI. But there are many regulations they should fulfil to seek approval,” he added.
MP Senasinghe said he had written to the President, the Prime Minister, the IGP, the FCID and the CID seeking justice.
He said that the law enforcement authorities should take swift action and investigate into the matter.