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Avant Garde lock horns with Champika: Files 4 complaints before CIABOC

28 Oct 2021

Convenor of the Association of Employment Deprived Personnel of Avant Garde Kamal Gamage filed several complaints at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (28), against Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Patali Champika Ranawaka. While speaking to The Morning, Gamage said that the complaints were filed based on matters of corruption which took place during the previous regime, at the hands of the then Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka. “Four complaints were made on these issues. One was about a 2 acre state land located on D R Wijewardana Mawatha. This land was given to a company called Lake Leisure Holdings for a period of 50 years. There was a misappropriation of Rs. 330 Mn,” Gamage said. It was also detailed that under Ranawaka’s Ministry, several development projects at the Water’s Edge Hotel were also introduced, all of which Gamage claims had a level of misappropriation of public funds.  “One was a sports bar project, there was also a boutique hotel project called Room 48. Additionally, an orchid garden was also to be constructed. There is evidence to prove that misappropriation of public funds took place in all these failed projects,” he told The Morning. Gamage further said that the Auditor General had audited all the accounts of the entities involved, which detailed malpractices and misappropriation of funds. “We submitted the same to the CIABOC and made a request for a comprehensive investigation,” Gamage said. The Convener further went on to note that close associates of the former Minister included the then Chairman of the Urban Development Authority and the Water’s Edge Hotel. “Through these projects, we trust that they would have amassed amazing wealth at the cost of the Public. We want the CIABOC to investigate their income and reveal if they generated the same through just means or otherwise,” he said. Pics by Eshan Dasanayaka


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