Opposition Unaware Of Campaign Funds Received By Fonseka
Following the discovery of millions of rupees in safe deposit boxes in a bank, opposition party leaders have denied any knowledge of these monies allegedly received by Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka during the recently concluded presidential election campaign.
Ashoka Tillakaratne, whose son Dhanuna is married to Sarath Fonseka’s daughter Apsara, claims she had taken out the safety deposit box facility for the express reason of storing this cash – given to her for safe keeping by Apsara. Tillakaratne has told police the cash was money received by Fonseka’s election campaign from “supporters” overseas.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said he had no prior knowledge of these monies supposedly received by General Fonseka during the election campaign. The amounts found included Rs. 15 million in Sri Lankan currency as well as US $550,000 in currency together with a small amount of sterling pounds. At current rates of exchange the equivalent of Rs. 78,819,500 was found in four safety deposit boxes.
Attanayake reiterated that he was completely unaware of these funds received directly by the General during the campaign. SLFP (M) Wing Leader and co-spokesperson for General Fonseka during the election campaign Mangala Samaraweera also denied knowledge of the funds received by the General during the campaign.
Samaraweera however said that most often funds are given directly to the respective candidates. “Funds that were given to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s campaign were always collected directly by him,” Samaraweera said.
Following the discovery of millions of rupees in safe deposit boxes in a bank, opposition party leaders have denied any knowledge of these monies allegedly received by Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka during the recently concluded presidential election campaign.
Ashoka Tillakaratne, whose son Dhanuna is married to Sarath Fonseka’s daughter Apsara, claims she had taken out the safety deposit box facility for the express reason of storing this cash – given to her for safe keeping by Apsara. Tillakaratne has told police the cash was money received by Fonseka’s election campaign from “supporters” overseas.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said he had no prior knowledge of these monies supposedly received by General Fonseka during the election campaign. The amounts found included Rs. 15 million in Sri Lankan currency as well as US $550,000 in currency together with a small amount of sterling pounds. At current rates of exchange the equivalent of Rs. 78,819,500 was found in four safety deposit boxes.
Attanayake reiterated that he was completely unaware of these funds received directly by the General during the campaign. SLFP (M) Wing Leader and co-spokesperson for General Fonseka during the election campaign Mangala Samaraweera also denied knowledge of the funds received by the General during the campaign.
Samaraweera however said that most often funds are given directly to the respective candidates. “Funds that were given to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s campaign were always collected directly by him,” Samaraweera said.
