GK fiasco takes a new turn with the return of Sicille Kotelawala
The Golden Key fiasco takes a new turn with the return from UK of Sicille Kotelawala who ran way from justice seven years ago and wanted by the Sri Lanka Police for questioning in the GK financial fraud case. GK depositors expressed dismay about her arrival to the island from London as he was absconding from the law enforcement authorities since 2009 and she was in the ‘most wanted’ category with a red notice issued by Interpol.
Leading member of the GK depositors action group Alex Jayasinghe told Business Times that Sicille wife of the former Chairman of the Ceylinco Group of Companies, Lalith Kotelawala who is out on bail at present is facing offences in the ‘most wanted’ category with a red notice issued by Interpol.
He noted that her arrest will help to get more information on GK assets including overseas investments. Mrs Kotelawala has avoided being questioned by the Sri Lanka Police ever since she took flight to Singapore in 2009. She was seen in Singapore before Interpol – the international Police service – reported her as being in the British capital city. GK depositors are also urging the Central Bank to instigate the forensic audit on GK assets liabilities and other financial transaction which was promised by Governor Arjuna Mahendran at a meeting held with them on June 2015. The Central Bank is yet to appoint a forensic audit he said adding that it will help to repay the balance 59 percent of the deposits of GK depositors after liquidating the company , he added.
Eleven valuable GK assets worth around Rs.1.9 billion including Ceylinco centre, land at Narammala, property at Hokandara , Rajagiriya, ENT hospital Rajagiriya , Ceylinco house three floors and three more houses are with the physical control of the GK Credit Card Company and require the Supreme Court approval for liquidation to make further payments, official sources revealed. Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya ordered to remand Sicille Kotelawala, the eighth suspect in the case of the Ceylinco F and G Company, till 25th February. She is currently receiving treatments at Colombo National Hospital under the guard of prison officers. She was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while returning to Sri Lanka on February 4.