The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, maintained a fraudulent account under the name “Siriliya Saviya.” Listen to what I say:

¶ 02 “Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa, under the name ‘Siriliya Saviya’, submitted false information and operated a suspicious account.”

¶ 03 This is the world-famous “Siriliya Saviya” account.

¶ 04 “It has now been established that this account is a fraudulent account. The account’s mandate form has gone missing from the bank.”

¶ 05 Remarkable, isn’t it? They opened an account, and the mandate form went missing. Who did that? We are investigating — give us a little time.

¶ 06 “At People’s Bank, Suduwella Branch, Darley Road, Colombo 10, under the name ‘Siriliya Saviya’, by submitting false information and without submitting the required lawful documentation, an account bearing No. 143-1-001-4-6235069 was opened on 2006.11.14. Transactions on this account are currently suspended, and at present the balance stands at Rs. 438 million.”

¶ 07 Who suspended it? We are investigating that.

¶ 08 “The Chairperson of this account is Shiranthi Rajapaksa.”

¶ 09 Who is that? Mahinda Rajapaksa’s spouse.

¶ 10 “Secretary: Seetha Kalyani Dissanayake. Treasurer: Nirosha Jeevani.”

¶ 11 “To date, deposits were made on 88 occasions totalling Rs. 808 million, while on 129 occasions withdrawals amounting to Rs. 305.15 million were made. A fixed deposit of Rs. 10 million was also started at this bank under ‘Siriliya’. Investigations regarding this account are being carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department.”

¶ 12 Unfortunately, this file is now lying at the Attorney General’s Department. We tell the country that within the mandate we have, we demand that these investigations commence. Under a National People’s Power Government, we will restart these investigations. So do not run around howling with your dog-whistle. Understood? Yes, amidst the noise — that is the reality. You are the ones who took up this dog-whistle. We will take this forward.

¶ 13 Hon. Presiding Member, now as to this matter raised as a challenge—