Sajin’s tell-all about Rajapaksa blackmail and corruption | Sunday Observer

Sajin’s tell-all about Rajapaksa blackmail and corruption

10 November, 2019
Sajin Vaas Gunawardena
Sajin Vaas Gunawardena

Continuing his revelations relating to the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sajin Vaas Gunawardena yesterday released an affidavit signed by the Director of a company named TPL Inter Pte Ltd, Chiddambaram Subbu that revealed the transaction of US$ 5 million was used to secretly fund several businesses of two Rajapaksa brothers.

The staggering document signed on October 28, 2015 reveals that the said sum was received by TPL Inter Pte Ltd through an agreement with Halliard Limited on behalf of Shangrila Ltd when the latter initiated its projects in Sri Lanka.

Gunawardena, CEO of Mihin Lanka at the time and therefore also worked with TPL Inter Pte Ltd, worked as a middleman for the Rajapaksa brothers and Subbu during the dealings. TPL Inter Pte Ltd represented Mihin Lanka in Singapore as its General Sales Agent in 2007 and 2008.

The affidavit reveals that Namal Rajapaksa requested 50 per cent of Shangrila funds to be invested with Lanka Orix Leasing Company (LOLC). The elder Rajapaksa brother goes on to request for a bank loan from TPL Inter Pte Ltd to purchase a hotel in Tangalle.

A further Rs. 50 million was provided as a lien on May 25, 2011 on the request of Yoshitha Rajapaksa to fund Carlton Sports Network (CSN) that was handled by him.

As the 2019 presidential election campaign winds to a close, explosive revelations have been made by former Rajapaksa confidant Gunawardena, about a culture of blackmail, corruption and intimidation during the decade Mahinda Rajapaksa held office as President.

Gunawardena exposed new details about the doings of the Rajapaksa regime, while also admitting that he himself had served as a lackey and stooge to the former ruling family during its decade in power.The former UPFA Galle District MP went public several times last week, after he released a recording to the media about how Kandy District Parliamentarian and SLPP strongman Lohan Ratwatte had allegedly threatened his children if Gunawardena continued to expose dealings in the Rajapaksa Government.The audio recording went viral.

Neither Ratwatte nor former President Rajapaksa have officially denied the contents. ( see Box for tanscript of the call)

“He will tell Yoshitha to kill me. Just like what was done to Thajudeen. That is all,” Gunawardena tells Ratwatte during the conversation, the first time a former member of the Rajapaksa inner circle has commented about the rugby player’s brutal murder that is still under investigation by the CID.

According to the audio tape purportedly featuring Ratwatte, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa was unhappy about statements made by Gunawardena in recent weeks.

Sajin Gunawardena then seeks an explanation from Ratwatte as to what triggered the threat since in his statement no reference was made to Mahinda Rajapaksa or Namal Rajapaksa.

“I only spoke about a political principle. Don’t I have the freedom to do politics in this country?” he asked the person he claimed to be Lohan Ratwatte during the phone call.

When the voice on the other end of the telephone line refers to Gunawardena’s children, the former Mihin Lanka CEO loses his temper, and threatens to reveal everything he knows if the former President so much as laid a finger on his family.

“I know everything, what they did with Gamini…and where the money is,” Gunawardena charged.

UPFA MP Susil Premajayanth reacted to Gunawardena’s allegations, the former Rajapaksa confidant came out with new revelations about how Premajayanth had allegedly been blackmailed into giving up his Petroleum portfolio during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term in office.

“After I released it, I saw in the media, that former Minister Susil Premajayanth, a close friend of mine, rejected this claim and made a speech which did not fit his stature, while insulting me at the same time,” Gunawardena told the press briefing.

Gunawardena, who was facing corruption charges himself, said Premajayanth should recall how as Petroleum Minister, when he was doing a good job, the former President had forced his resignation.Gunewardena alleged that the former President had sent him with a video to show Premajayanth. He said former President Rajapaksa had called and asked him to make an appointment with then Petroleum Minister Premajayantha.

“You asked why you should resign and refused to issue a letter of resignation. But the former President was in possession of a videotape. You and I both know the contents of that videotape.

I won’t reveal it to the public since it concerns a family member of yours,” Gunewardena told journalists at the press briefing.

He said that when former Minister Premajayantha saw the video, he had nearly fainted.

The resignation had then been handed over. “That is when Anura Yapa was appointed the Minister of Petroleum Resources and you took on the portfolio of Science and Technology,” Gunawardena said.

“Please do not forget the past. This is the history of the Rajapaksa’s. That is how they blackmailed you back then.

Instead of seeking legal action against you, they used me and showed you that videotape and struck fear into you. This is the tactic used by the Rajapaksa’s,” he added.

*****

Sajin Vass Gunawardena: Hello

Lohan Rathwatte: Yes, Mr. Gunawardena?

Sajin: Why have you said that Mahinda Rajapaksa has given an order to kill me? What happened?

Lohan: Eh… Pissed off?

Sajin: Yes, pissed off- true. That is obviously no. But I didn’t get pissed off till now for what was done to me.

Lohan: There is no point now Sajin. What are you trying to gain?

Sajin: He will tell Yoshitha to kill me. Just like what was done to Thajudeen. That is all.

Lohan: What are you trying to gain?

Sajin: I am not scared of that, Lohan.

Lohan: No, no not scared. You have two little children.

Sajin: Then tell him to come and lay his hands on the two children.

(Lohan and Sajin speaking over each other)

Lohan: But what you are doing is a stupid thing, Sajin.

Sajin: No, not a stupid thing. What I am doing is he has.. even now..

Lohan: You will start one. You don’t have to get into that shit no.

Sajin: That is why I am being the smarter one Lohan, right?

Lohan: Yeah.

Sajin: That is why I am being the smarter one. Because of what he has done to me.

Lohan: This is not being smart. You are like being bloody childish, no. What is this?

Sajin: No, no.

Lohan: Absolutely.

Sajin: What ever done to me…

Lohan: What I saw in what you said was like a stupid child who got angry because he didn’t get some (inaudible 01.16)

Sajin: Lohan, I do not expect anything from him. I do not expect anything from him.

Lohan: Why not? Your politics..

Sajin: Look.. It doesn’t matter to me if he is trying to make his son the king. But let us be. For Mahinda Rajapaksa..

Lohan: You understand that.. Don’t you understand that?

Sajin: I do understand that and I do appreciate that a lot. But what I say is if Mahinda Rajapaksa wants to kill me or my children. Ask him to do kill and see.

Lohan: But there is no need for that. What if even a small incident happen? Unnecessary, no?

Sajin: If a small incident happens even I will not wait without doing anything, Lohan. We also have the same blood. I will not just wait. I will end his whole generation and then stop. I have decided that I will not even go to his funeral, ever. Lohan you know what I have done for him for 20 years.

Lohan: I know, so. I know.

Sajin: What they did from A-Z. What they did with Gamini.. with everyone.. and where the money is. I know all of this. Have I said a single word? But that is okay..

Lohan: Whatever that is, I talk to you in a personal level.

I don’t care about politics or whatever thing. Whatever I heard, I told you.

Sajin: You tell Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa that I told him that I am not scared of any of his threats. If anything happens to a finger, a hair of my children, my wife and me I will end his whole family.

Tell him that. This Sajin Vass Gunavardena is a person like that. That he knows and I know. And I will reveal everything. Make sure you tell him that. I have not done anything wrong to him. Okay?

Lohan: hmm..

Sajin: We can’t bare all of this, Lohan. You check and see.

Lohan: I hope so. I hope so.

Sajin: Anyway I have no interest with them no, Lohan.

Lohan: I know. Politically..

Sajin: Even if he comes tomorrow worshiping and asking me to come, I will not go. I told you that, no?

Lohan: That will not happen either no? We both know that.

Sajin: That is the thing. That will not happen so no point. So I have to do my politics and he can do his politics. Why is he getting so worked up?

Lohan: I don’t know. I didn’t go to ask either.

Sajin: I didn’t go to say anything personal. Why is he getting… ai mechchara kalabala wenne? I didn’t say that and this to him. I didn’t say Mahinda Rajapaksa and scold. I didn’t tell Namal Rajapaksa and scold. I only spoke about a political principle. Don’t I have the freedom to do politics in this country?

Lohan: You have the freedom.

Sajin: Then what is the issue here?

Lohan: This is my personal thing with you no. Just watch your back. That is it.

Sajin: I will watch my back, no problem. But you tell him this too

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