By Roy Denish.
Shangri-La land sale allegations now point to a reported $5 million bribe claim involving Mahinda Rajapaksa and associates.
Shangri-La land sale allegations have placed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and several close associates at the center of a reported US$5 million bribery claim tied to Colombo’s waterfront Army Headquarters property.
A report published by Sri Lanka Guardian says the Shangri-La land sale allegations concern the original sale of land in the Galle Face area, later developed into the hotel property. The report claims the payment related to the high-value waterfront transaction and relies on material attributed to Sajin Vass Gunawardena, a former ally of the Rajapaksa political circle.
Shangri-La land sale allegation
According to the report, Gunawardena referred to an affidavit allegedly given to the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division by a Singaporean businessman on October 28, 2015. The affidavit reportedly dealt with financial transactions connected to the land sale. It was allegedly recorded in Singapore before senior FCID officials, including its then head, Ravi Waidyalankara.
The cited material claims the US$5 million payment was later laundered through a well-known local private financial institution. It further alleges that the money helped fund investments, including the acquisition of the Tangalle Bay hotel property in the southern coastal region and activities linked to the CSN media network.
The publication also refers to an audio recording circulating on social media. It reportedly contains a telephone conversation between Gunawardena and Lohan Ratwatte over death threats linked to the disclosures. The report presents these matters as allegations and cited material.
Following the latest claims, Citizens Power Organization Against Bribery and Corruption Chairman Jamuni Kamantha Thushara is reportedly preparing to file a formal complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
The complaint, according to the report, would seek an official inquiry into the transaction. The full Sri Lanka Guardian report is available through its web portal.
The full report can be accessed through the Sri Lanka Guardian web portal.
