News
Johnston demands one billion rupees in damages from ex-JVP MP Wasantha
For alleging fraud amounting to Rs 164.4 billion in the the Second Phase of the Central Expressway Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando has demanded one billion rupees in damages from former JVP MP Wasantha Samarasinghe, who recently alleged that a fraud to the tune of Rs 164.4 billion had taken place in the implementation of the Second Phase of the Central Expressway.
Minister Fernando, in a letter of demand sent through his lawyer, states that Samarasinghe made false allegations at a press conference on Feb 20 and that the latter continued to repeat the same false, malicious and defamatory allegations through various media platforms, both print and electronic.
The letter of demand by Attorney-at-Law Kasun Weerasekera says: “I am instructed that you convened a press conference on or about 20th February 2022 under the banner of ‘Voice Against Corruption Organization’ whereby you intentionally, falsely, wrongfully, and maliciously prejudiced and defamed my client by stating that my client is in the process of committing a financial fraud amounting to Rs. 164.4 Billion during the construction of the 20km stretch of the Central Expressway from Galagedara to Rambukkana.
“Details of the said defamatory statements levelled against my client by you at the aforesaid press conference dated 20th February 2022 are inter-alia as follows; i. That tenders had been called for the construction of the aforesaid 20 km stretch of the Central Expressway from Galagedara to Rambukkana, ii. That approval of tenders for the aforesaid project are under the purview of a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee designated as CANC, iii. That bids were submitted by two companies, namely a Chinese Company named Metallurgical Corporation (MCC) and a Sri Lankan Company named Lanka Infrastructure Development Consortium (LIDC), iv. That the lower bid submitted by MCC amounting to USD $ 1,050 million (Rs. 210 Billion) had been rejected by the said Committee in favour of the higher bid submitted by LIDC amounting to USD $ 1,872 million (Rs. 374.4 Billion).”
While vehemently denying the false, wrongful malicious and defamatory allegations levelled by Samnarasinghe, the Minister states that Second Phase project of the Central Expressway was still in the procurement stage and tenders have yet to be even called for the said project. Only four companies have so far subjected themselves to be assessed at the procurement stage of this project, and no such Chinese Company by the name referred to by you has submitted a proposal for the same.
The lawyer’s letter said: “In the said circumstances, I am instructed that the contents of the aforesaid statements uttered by you and given wide publicity in the print and electronic media as well as on your official YouTube and Facebook page/channel are patently false, and have been deliberately and maliciously stated by you without any evidence to shock the conscience of the public at large and cause public outrage and hatred towards my client by falsely alleging that a such colossal and unprecedented sum of Rs. 164.4 Billion has been defrauded by my client, a figure that is purportedly over ten times more than the purported loss suffered by the State due to the infamous Bond Scam of 2015- 2017 period which in itself caused significant public outrage at the time.
“Thereby I am instructed that the aforesaid false, untrue words and/or statements made by you towards my client are defamatory both per-se as well as by innuendo and have been made without lawful justification or excuse and that you published and/or caused to be published the said statements and/or words with animus injuriandi and express malice against my client.”
“Further, the said statements and/or words made by you have wrongfully, maliciously and falsely attributed bad moral character to my client and seeks to diminish his social standing among the public, in furtherance of your own ulterior and collateral political motives, while acting in gross violation of my client’s rights.
“I am instructed that my client estimates the damages caused by you to my client at One Billion Rupees (Rs. 1,000,000,000/-). In the aforesaid circumstances, I am instructed to demand from you and demand is hereby made for the settlement of said One Billion Rupees (Rs. 1,000,000,000/-) to my client within 14 days hereof.
“In the event of your failure to do so within the above said period, I have received further instructions to put you on Notice and Notice is hereby given that my Client will be instituting legal action against you for the recovery of the said total sum of One Billion Rupees (Rs. 1,000,000,000/-) together with costs of suit and Legal interest due thereof.”
Interdicted Deputy Director at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka (NHSL) Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (29) alleged that the powers that be moved against him for seeking the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) investigation into a massive fraud at the NHSL laboratory.
Dr. Bellana said so in response to The Island query regarding the circumstances the Health Ministry interdicted him on 18 December, through a letter, as directed by the Health Committee of the Public Service (PSC) Commission. “That letter has been signed by an Additional Secretary, as Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe was overseas,” Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana stated that the government had paid for reagents, contaminated or close to expiry dates, obtained from a leading local medical supplier, since 2022. He emphasised that his complaint to the CIABOC, and subsequent complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were entirely based on the issues raised by the National Audit Office (NAO).
Responding to another query, Dr. Bellana said that the public funds, amounting to Rs. 900 mn, had been spent on chemical reagents past expiry dates. Regardless of the intervention made by the NAO, the NHSL continued to procure supplies from the same company, Dr. Bellana said, adding that he had received the unconditional support of the civil society. Among them were Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), President of Academy of Health Professionals Ravi Kumudesh, and leader of Mage Rata Sanjaya Mahawatta.
Dr. Bellana said that he had complained about the scam to the CIABOC in June this year.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, who also lodged a complaint with CIABOC, regarding the same matter, is on record as having said in September this year that the reagents had been procured over a three-year period without the proper approval of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry. Dr. Sanjeewa has alleged that some of the reagents were either contaminated or close to expiry dates, while contracts had been given to a single company at unapproved prices.
Dr. Bellana said that had there been a proper system for CIABOC and law enforcement authorities to act on findings made by the NAO they wouldn’t have personally intervened in the NHSL laboratory matter. “Parliament should look into this. Did Parliament take up the NHSL laboratory matter at the relevant watchdog committee or at the Sectoral Oversight Committee that handled health?” Dr. Bellana asked.
Asked whether the letter that informed him of his interdiction gave any specific reason for the action taken, Dr. Bellana said the Ministry had found fault with him for speaking to the media. The irate ex-official said that he never hesitated to take a stand against injustice. “When former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was accused of corruption, pertaining to medical procurement, I condemned the Minister. Lambasted those responsible for wrongdoings.”
Dr. Bellana said that the NAO had dealt with mega crime involving the public and private sector. “That is the undeniable truth. Parliament should look into this as public money is its responsibility. Having vowed to stamp out corruption, the NPP was allowing and encouraging those who had been making money at the expense of the sick, Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana said that as many as 10,000 tests were conducted daily at the NHSL. The racketeers had been active during Aragalaya as the NHSL and the private supplier reached agreement in 2022 and the process continued even after the last presidential election, conducted in September 2024.
Dr. Bellana said that the long delay in finalising the Auditor General’s appointment exposed the government. If those holding high political office were genuinely interested in fighting corruption, they wouldn’t have allowed that Office of AG stay vacant even for a day.
Dr. Bellana noted the tough statements issued by the Bar Association, Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Committee on Public Finance demanding the immediate appointment of AG.
Health Ministry officials were not available for comment.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
BIA unions, including those affiliated to political parties, are demanding bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries.
A group of workers yesterday (29) protested outside BIA urging the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd to increase their bonuses. They claimed that the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd., Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, had assured them that they would be paid bonuses worth five times their basic salaries.
The SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the airport, the Podujana Sewaka Sangamaya, the Pragathishili Sewaka Sangamaya, the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, and the SLNSS of SriLankan Airlines joined the protest.
The Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has issued an urgent safety warning to residents living along the banks of the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River, as water levels in the Kotmale Reservoir are reaching maximum capacity.
According to a special weather advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology on December 26, 2025, heavy rainfall is expected in the catchment areas over the coming days.
In response, the Mahaweli Authority released a statement on December 27, warning that spill gates may have to be opened to manage the water flow.
Eng. A.M.A.K. Seneviratne, Resident Engineer and Deputy Director of the Kotmale Reservoir, stated that the opening of spill gates would lead to a significant rise in the water levels of both the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River.
Areas on Alert
Residents in the following Divisional Secretariat divisions are urged to remain extra vigilant:
• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West and Kotmale East.
• Kandy District: Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Doluwa, Pasbage Korale, and Ganga Ihala Korale.
Authorities have advised the public in these low-lying and river-adjacent areas to monitor the situation closely and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the protection of their property.
By S.K. Samaranayake
Nepal to scrap ‘failed’ Mount Everest waste deposit scheme
Trump hopes to reach phase two of Gaza ceasefire ‘very quickly’
Bangladesh’s first female prime minister Khaleda Zia dies aged 80
Ukraine denies drone attack on Putin’s residence
Showers expected at times in the Northern, Eastern, Central, North-central and Uva provinces
Dr. Bellana: “I was removed as NHSL Deputy Director for exposing Rs. 900 mn fraud”
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News5 days agoBritish MP calls on Foreign Secretary to expand sanction package against ‘Sri Lankan war criminals’
-
News4 days agoStreet vendors banned from Kandy City
-
Sports5 days agoChief selector’s remarks disappointing says Mickey Arthur
-
News6 days agoSri Lanka’s coastline faces unfolding catastrophe: Expert
-
Opinion5 days agoDisasters do not destroy nations; the refusal to change does
-
News4 days agoLankan aircrew fly daring UN Medevac in hostile conditions in Africa
-
Midweek Review6 days agoYear ends with the NPP govt. on the back foot
-
Sports6 days agoLife after the armband for Asalanka