Litro paid 40 others transport allowance: Payment of Rs.95,000 to Amila Thera
Forty persons, including Ven. Dambara Amila Thera, had received money from Litro Gas during the period 2016 and 2018 July, as a transport allowance, the Special High Court was told yesterday.
Giving evidence before the three-judge bench of the Special High Court, Litro’s Financial Controller Muditha Harashajith Tamanagama said that Amila Thera had been paid a travelling allowance of Rs. 95,000 a month from a secret account maintained by the company.
Under cross-examination of Ali Sabry, PC looking after the interests of Gamini Senarath, fomer personal assistant to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Tamanagama said some of those who had received money from Litro Gas were politicians.
The case has been filed over 24 charges including the unlawful transfer of Rs. 500 million, Litro credited to Canvil Holdings, to Helanco Hotels and Spa Ltd and criminal breach of trust.
The witness said the Finance Ministry had directed Litro Gas to pay Ven. Amila Thera Rs. 125,000 as a travelling allowance. Aletter signed by the Executive Director of the company, its Managing Director and Human Resources Manager had been sent to him directing him to pay Rs 125,000 to the Thera on April 5,2016, Tamanagama said, adding that but he had declined to approve the payment. Thereafter, the company had paid the monk the said amount from the secret account, he said.
At this juncture Defence Counsel Ali Sabry showed a document to the witness, who identified it as the pay order endorsing the payment of Rs.95,000 to Amila Thera in July 2018.
It was marked as a document of the defence by the Defence Counsel.
Deputy Solicitor General Thusitha Mudalige crossexamined the witness, presenting documents pertaining to the annual budgets of Litro Gas on profits earned by the company, taxes paid to government and dividends paid to its parent company Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.
The case was put off for December 7.
The bench comprised of High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratnme and Champa Janaki Rajaratne.
Attorneys-at-law Ali Sabri, PC, Ganesh Dharmawardena, Ruwantha Cooray, Nilantha Wijesinghe appeared for accused Gamini Senarath.
(Source: The Island – By A .J.A .Abeynayake)
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Ths Monk should join Ven. Gnanasara in the prison soon. Same with Viyangoda, Samnanali and the rest.
I have no words to describe the corruption, occurring in Sri Lanka from the highest to the lowest ranking. Shame.
Is this the country they going to hand to the in coming generation.
Amarakoon,
In a previous Blog, you stated that the Buddhist Clergy is closely aligned to the different political camps.
This was in response to the blog wondering why the High Priests in Kandy failed to give an audience to HE Sirisena.
Though I rejected your viewpoint at that time, I am now shockingly convinced that your are right.
Buddhist Clergy should abandon the ‘High Life’ lifestyles and demonstrate simplicity by giving up luxury cars (purportedly donated by the rich) and travel in Public Transport (Busses, Trains and Tuk-tuks) for a start.