SLPP wants investigation on Rs. 2 b Lotus Tower loss

Wednesday, 18 September 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLPP denies allegations their leadership was responsible for Rs. 2 b loss
Says Govt. had chance to conduct investigations into the issue during past 4 years
Downplays impact on coalition talks, say discussions will continue

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday called on President Maithripala Sirisena to order an independent investigation into the alleged Rs. 2 billion loss allegedly incurred by the Government due to an advance payment for the Lotus Tower in 2012.

The President alleged during the opening ceremony of the Lotus Tower on Monday that the Rs. 2 billion loss took place due to an advance payment being made to a Chinese company for the construction of the Lotus Tower.

The company was later found by authorities to be untraceable, according to the President.

Speaking to media at the SLPP Head Office, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena denied the President’s statements and said the agreement to construct the Lotus Tower was signed with a reputed company.

“We deny the President’s claims. The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) signed the agreement with one of the most reputed companies in China. I was told by the former TRCSL Chairman that the agreement was genuine and there was no financial misappropriation,” Abeygunawardena said.

He argued that if such a loss had taken place, the Government had a chance to investigate the alleged advance payment and to trace the company during the last four-and-a-half years. If financial misappropriation had in fact taken place, the Government could have taken action against them, Abeygunawardena said.

“From 2015 this Government has been investigating about the Rajapaksa family. Why were they unable to investigate into this alleged advance payment? This Government sent investigative officers to foreign countries to find about the Rajapaksa family’s assets, so why were they unable to find out about that company?” Abeygunawardena questioned. Referring to ongoing coalition talks between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the SLPP, Abeygunawardena downplayed the impact of the President’s comments on discussions and said they expected talks to continue as the SLPP had not ‘pointed fingers’ at the SLFP.

According to Abeygunawardena, the SLPP leadership had not criticised the SLFP and had consistently remained committed to forming a coalition. “We will continue talks with the SLFP as we did not accuse them of anything.

The SLPP leadership has always shown interest in continuing talks and I believe that stance will not change based on the President’s speech,” he said.

Pix by - Chamila Karunarathne