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Carlton Foundation vehicles found in Colombo 4 land
The aerobic instructor for the former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was this week questioned by police in connectionwith the find of eight vehicles including two ambulances on an empty land situated at Lauries Road in Colombo 4, police said yesterday.
The vehicles found on Lauries Road. Pic by Susantha iyanawatte
Bambalapitiya Police officials said they had recorded the statement of Kanthi Ranchagoda, proprietor of Dance Works Centre in Lauries Road, Colombo 4 since she was in possession of the key to the gate that protected the land.
Acting on a tip-off from residents in the area the police moved in and secured the vehicles that included two mini school bus, a Prado jeep, two ambulances, two three-wheelers and a mini lorry (Dimo Batta) The vehicles were locked and loaded with files and documents, according to police.
Initial investigations have revealed that the vehicles belonged to the Carlton Foundation and they were currently being examined by officials from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles Department (RMV) to trace the original owners.
The Carlton Foundation is known to have been backed by the former first family.
In her deposition to police the aerobic instructress has claimed that she was instructed by a retired Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to provide access to the vehicles by giving her the key to the gate, police said.
Police are now investigating to ascertain the legal owner of the land and are following leads that it had been acquired by a former VIP under questionable circumstances but stopped short of elaborating further. At present a police guard has been posted at the premises.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has also been called into assist in the ongoing investigations, police added.
Palitha Athukorale, President of the National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS) who has his office opposite the land said that the vehicles had arrived in a hurriedly driven convoy and drove straight to the land which is surrounded by a high wall with a steel gate.
This movement took place around 2.30 p.m. the day after the Presidential election on January 8, and since then the vehicles remained unattended and unclaimed.
Ms. Ranchagoda told the Sunday Times that she was not aware of the legal owner of the land but refused to elaborate when asked about the key in her possession which was later handed over to Bambalapitiya Police Station officials.
She conceded that Mrs. Rajapaksa was one of her many clients and that it was no secret since everyone in the neighbourhood was aware of that. “However Mrs. Rajapaksa ceased to be a client four months ago,” she added.
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