News
Raj Rajaratnam hits out at an unfair conviction in a ‘tell all’ book
Billionaire financier, Raj Rajaratnam, American of Sri Lankan descent who founded the Galleon Fund, now out of jail after serving seven and a half years of an 11-year sentence, has written what Amazon calls “a hot new release on criminal law……… illustrating prosecutorial overreach.”
The book is titled “Uneven Justice” with a subtitle “The Sinking of Galleon.” The hedge fund managed USD seven billion and employed 180 people in its heyday.
The writer who was arrested in October 2009 and charged with insider trading, says he chose to fight the charges against him “because I was innocent” and understanding the stakes chose to go trial because he expected a fair hearing.
He says he believed that that with a fair hearing and a rational exposition of the facts, “the truth would have prevailed.” He took the chance despite his understanding that in the US there is a 97% conviction rate, similar to Russia and China, and a punitive trial penalty for those who dare to go to trial.
“Empirical studies have shown that the trial penalty is just about double that handed to those who plead guilty. If a defendant agrees to become a cooperating witness, helping the government with testimony –irrespective of the truth – to convict another defendant, the co-operating witnesses gets a much reduced-sentence and in many cases just parole,” he says in the preface of his book.
Its sales proceeds will be donated to charity.
The Amazon blurb says that Rajaratnam chose to go to trial rather than concede to a false narrative concocted by ambitious prosecutors looking for a scapegoat for the 2008 financial crisis.
“As an immigrant who had achieved tremendous success in his adopted country, he trusted the system. He had not anticipated prosecutorial overreach – inspired by political ambition – FBI fabrications, judicial compliance and lies told under oath by cooperating witnesses,” the blurb says.
“Meanwhile not a single bank executive responsible for the financial crisis was ever charged.”
(See Rajaratnam’s preface to the book on p-12)
Addressing the 58th Annual General Meeting of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) held on Monday (27) at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined a comprehensive strategy to propel the country’s tourism sector to new heights. Focused on surpassing the target of 5 million tourists and redefining traditional approaches, the President’s vision extends to achieving 7.5 million visitors in the coming years. The President emphasized the need for innovative thinking and collaboration within the industry to ensure sustainable growth.
“When I took over the government, I realized that sustainability alone is not sufficient. How are we going to earn foreign exchange? How are we going to have a positive balance of trade? In that, there were many suggestions. But what is the low-hanging fruit? And one of the low-hanging fruits was tourism. Let’s promote tourism fully,” President Wickremesinghe declared.
The President acknowledged the need to move beyond the existing framework and embrace competition to elevate Sri Lanka’s standing in the global tourism market. Drawing parallels with countries like Vietnam, he questioned why they had more tourists despite being in the industry for a shorter period. President Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of increasing the number of tourists to 2.5 million in the upcoming year and subsequently expanding on this figure.
(PMD)
Business
Free visas for nationals of China, India, Indonesia, Russsia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan from Monday (27)
The Controller General of Immigration and Emigration has stated that nationals of China, India, Indonesia, Russsia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan will be granted free visas from Monday 27-11-2023 to 31-03-2024 as a pilot program to rebuild the tourism industry.
Nationals of the above nominated countries possessing, Diplomatic, Official, Public Affairs, Services and Ordinary Passports are eligible to enjoy a visa free regime under this scheme.
The above mentioned nationals should apply for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arriving in Sri Lanka subject to granting / issuing free of charge up to 31-03-2024.
Under this scheme tourists can enjoy a 30 days free visa period and a double entry facility is permitted within 30 days from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka.
Free ETA under this scheme can be applied up to 31-03-2024.
The free ETA cannot be extended further and is limited only to thirty (30) days. In case the free ETA period of 30 days expires after 31-03-2024, an extension of visa could be applied subject to paying the appropriate fee.
Latest News
Cabinet gives green light for Colombo Port City Order No. 3 of 2023 to be presented in Parliament
The President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotion has published the Colombo Port City Orders No. 3 of 2023 (Enterprises with Strategic Value – Guidelines for releasing or encouraging to award for customs – free enterprises) under the provisions of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021 by the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2355/30 dated 25.10.2023.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotions to submit the said orders to the Parliament for its concurrence.
(PMD)
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