Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe fires back in Parliament over distillery deal allegations, demanding an investigation into what he calls a false and damaging attack on his integrity.
Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe took the floor in Parliament today to strongly reject accusations leveled against him by Member of Parliament Shanakyan Rasamanikkam regarding an alleged distillery deal. The Deputy Minister stated that the claims were baseless, politically motivated, and amounted to a violation of his parliamentary privileges.
According to Abeysinghe, MP Rasamanikkam made his statement in the House when he himself was not present, accusing him of being linked to an improper distillery deal and claiming to hold evidence of such involvement. Abeysinghe condemned the remarks, stating that no such meeting took place at the Kingsbury Hotel, nor had he received any related letter. He emphasized that his political career was built on fighting fraud, corruption, and deal-making, and he intends to uphold that standard with full transparency.
He further requested that Parliament not be used as a platform to amplify content circulating on YouTube or other media sources without factual verification. Calling the statement a direct breach of his privilege, the Deputy Minister urged a fair investigation into the matter.
In response, MP Shanakyan Rasamanikkam stood firm, saying this was not a matter of privilege but a personal explanation of facts. He insisted that both the Deputy Minister and another MP had been present at the Kingsbury Hotel for discussions and called for CCTV footage to be examined to establish the truth. Rasamanikkam further stated that he possessed a letter connected to the alleged deal, one that mentioned a lease worth Rs. 100 million, and pledged to table it before Parliament.
The heated exchange highlighted growing political tensions, with accusations of corruption clashing with counter-claims of personal attacks. Abeysinghe’s insistence on a transparent investigation reflects his attempt to shield his political credibility, while Rasamanikkam’s push for documentary evidence and CCTV review suggests the dispute is far from over.
For now, the controversy underscores how allegations of secretive deals continue to disrupt the political arena, raising questions of accountability, transparency, and parliamentary ethics. The demand for proof and investigations signals that the matter will likely drag on, keeping the distillery deal in the spotlight and leaving both parliamentarians and the public waiting for clarity.
