Importer says CID probe going nowhere

Investigations into the Rs. 7.4 million Sathosa garlic scam appear to be going nowhere amid attempts to close the case, a company which made the complaint has said.

Enriched investment Lanka (Pvt) Ltd said that concerned parties had shown interest in the petitioner withdrawing the complaint made against Lanka Sathosa over illegally clearing two container loads of garlic imported by the company.

Claiming that the Criminal Investigations Department had made little progress in the case so far, CEO Tishan Goonetilake said the five suspects had been granted bail while the Sathosa deputy general manager (procurement), a key suspect in the case, had been reinstated in his jobs.

Trade Ministry Secretary Bhadrani Jayawardena said the decision to reinstate the DGM was made by the Sathosa board of directors and the CEO.

However, Sathosa CEO Ranjith Rupasinghe said the matter was discussed with Minister Bandula

Gunewardena and the green light came from the Trade Ministry.

In October last year, the Welisara Magistrate’s Court granted bail to the DGM, two businessmen and three other suspects.

Mr. Goonetilake said the CID’s probe team was “dragging its feet” and that his only hope was the Supreme Court where he had filed a fundamental rights petition. The case is scheduled to be taken up for hearing on March 14.

“I seek justice for the people on whose behalf the stock of garlic was imported,” he said

Meanwhile, whistle- blower Thushan Gunewrdena, who was Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) executive director when the garlic scam was exposed, was in for an unpleasant surprise when he found out that a travel ban has been imposed on him.

Mr. Gunewardena, who had planned a business trip to the United States, had to abandon his plans and return home last week.

He said he had not been informed of the travel ban.

Earlier, he had been interrogated by the CID after Trade Minister Bandula Gunewardena claimed in parliament that Mr. Gunewardena was part of a conspiracy against the government.

Meanwhile, Enricher Investment Lanka (Pvt) Ltd has filed a petition at the Human Rights Commission.

The company's FR petition filed at the SC charged that the 56,000 kilograms of garlic imported in two containers were to be distributed to Sathosa outlets but had been unlawfully and wrongfully cleared from the Port and sold to outside agents at a higher price.

It said that there had been a delay in clearing the containers because of the dollar shortage in the country and pandemic restrictions during which time some corrupt Sathosa officials had moved in and cleared the containers following a June 2021 cabinet decision to sell essential food items confiscated by the Ports and Sri Lanka Customs to Lanka Sathosa customers.

The petition cites the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Lanka Sathosa Ltd and two businesses as the main respondents.