Despite enquiries confirming fraud of 169 million Rupees happened at Reconciliation and Development Agency (RADA), Coalition against Corruption (CAC) alleges that authorities are not taking necessary steps to conclude the enquiry and take legal action against the accused
Saman Rathanpriya joint convener of the Coalition against Corruption speaking at a media briefing questioned whether the reason for government not to take necessary action is because accused are allies of the government?
Initial investigations has revealed that Rs 169 million of fund released from the National Budget Department, Ministry of Nation building and development, and Disaster relief fund was given to RADA for housing construction projects in Trincomalee and Batticalao have been misused. The investigations further revealed that RADA has allocated this money to B and K Holdings and Everest Civil Engineering Company which was registered in 2006 for the purpose of construction of these houses.
The Director Board of RADA was then comprised of Tiran Christopher Alles (Chairman), Thilak Amunugama, Shanthi Fernando and Saliya Wickremasuriya. The particular cheque under question was signed by Tiran Alles and Saliya Wickremasuriya.
RADA was awarded this contract without heeding to the requests made by government officials such as the Divisional Secretary of Eastern Province to engage in constructions. Tiran Alles the chairman of RADA and Emil Lakshmikanthan the ex LTTE Intelligence Officer had attended the discussion held between government officials and RADA.
This is an open corruption, these companies have not constructed a single house in Battilcalao or Trincomalee districts under this project said Ratnapriya
“The owners of the two construction companies claimed that they gave the money back to Tiran Alles on three instances through submitting an affidavit. This is a very clear case of corruption. RADA deposited state funds to two private companies and then those companies gave the money back to the chairman of RADA. This is all public funds, funds of tax payers. We would like to ask the government to divulge the reason in delaying action against the culprits” stated Saman Rathnapriya.
Representing the Coalition Against Corruption Udeni Dissanayake from the Lanka Management Assistants Association, Thamara Dayani from National Trade union Collective, N.H Dissanayake from the Lanka Teachers Union, lawyer JagathLiyanarachchi and Ananda Jayasekera from CAC programme of Transparency International and many other activists attended the event.
Coalition against Corruption is a collective of individuals and organisations, Professionals, Artistes, Journalists, Civil Society. Coalition against Corruption has been in operation since 2012 fighting against all forms of corruption and fraud.