Top names in sports firm connected to Tharunyata Hetak
View(s):Some powerful names have figured in the controversial transaction involving the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) donation to Tharunyata Hetak, a youth organisation which was run by Namal Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, souces told the Business Times.
Apart from the former SEC Chairman Nalaka Godahewa and Ronnie Ibrahim, Director – Ceylon Premier Sports Ltd (to which the ‘donation’ was given by the SEC), some 11 names have figured pertaining to an enquiry over this transaction, a source told the Business Times.
Top stockbroker Asanga Seneviratne, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Nimal Perera, Mohammed Rizly, (Entrust Chairman) Chanuka Ratwatte, Kosala Heengama, Ravi Wijeratne, Prashanthi Dinusha Perera, Darshana Munasinghe, Major Nissanka Senadhipathi (Avant Garde Security chief) and Joseph Chandrakumar Page were directors of Premier Sports as at August 2013 when the donation was made, the source said.Meanwhile responding to a query raised by JVP MP Sunil Handunetti in Parliament on Wednesday, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Niroshan Perera said that the organisation (Tharunyayata Hetak) had requested funds for a market promotion programme from the SEC, which in turn had paid the money to the Ceylon Premier Sports Ltd.
“Upon instructions by the Sports Director of the Tharunyayata Hetak organisation, Ronnie Ibrahim, the money was allocated to the Ceylon Premier Sports Ltd,” he told Parliament.
He added that the Financial Crimes Investigation Division had completed investigations into the matter and that the case had been referred to the Attorney General. The inquiry relates to a ‘donation’ given during Dr. Godahewa’s tenure at SEC.