Bribery complaint filed against Shiranthi Rajapaksa

Shyamali Gunawardena, the wife of former DIG Vass Gunawardena, today (26) filed a complaint with the Bribery Commission (CIABOC) against the former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa over a gold deal which was revealed by the former DIG.

Speaking to media today, she said that her husband had investigated a case where 100kgs of gold from the Treasury were allegedly sold in a fraudulent manner and that the case involved the former first lady.

She added that Senior DIG Anura Senanayake and Hudson Samarasinghe of the SLBC had urged her to state that Shiranthi Rajapaksa was not involved in the case.

Several days before that, my husband was remanded. My family was threatened constantly. I was intimidated that my husband would not be freed if i revealed any details, she added.

Noting that he husband had informed her to lodge a complaint with the Bribery commission, Shyamali Gunawardena urged the President, the Prime minister and the minister of Justice to initiate an investigation on this regard and bring the perpetrators to book.

Also Former First lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has been accused of acquiring a public land at Kalapura at Templers Road in Mount Lavinia for the Carlton Company which had been used as a Cultural Centre earlier, residents said in a petition collectively signed by them.

Kalyani Herath Menike and Nissanka Diddeniya, two signatories to the petition have asked that the land be now given back to cultural arts for what it was once used.

The letter points out that it was given to them by former President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1984 as a housing complex and an Arts and Cultural Centre that covered an area of 80 perches.

The grievance of residents at Kalapura has also been brought to the notice of President Maithripala Sirisena.