ANTI-CORRUPTION FRONT CHALLENGES MR TO PROVE INNOCENCE

NY Times’ exposure on Hambantota Port

Referring to the New York Times exposure ‘How China Got Sri Lanka to Cough Up a Port’, Anti-corruption Front (ACF) Adviser, Provincial Councillor Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe yesterday urged former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to prove his innocence, if he is not guilty.

Quoting the article, Warnasinghe said that at least USD 7.6 million was dispensed from China Harbour’s account at Standard Chartered Bank to affiliates of Mr. Rajapaksa’s election campaign.

“Mahinda Rajapaksa on an earlier occasion said that he would shoot himself if anyone had found a single dollar in any of his bank accounts. Although foreign media exposed USD 7.6 million money obtained by him, Mr. Rajapaksa still remains silent,” he said.

Mahind Rajapaksa on an earlier occasion said that he would shoot himself if anyone had found a single dollar in any of his bank accounts

He urged the former President to submit an affidavit that he did not receive money from China Harbour’s account.

Warnasinghe further said that the Joint Opposition (JO) wants Parliamentary debates for each and every issue of the country, as such, a debate should be called on this issue. “The people of the country had undergone severe inconveniences and had to pay sky high taxes because of the Rajapaksas’ debt trap,” he said.

He further urged President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a Presidential Commission to probe the irregularities of the Hambantota Port.