CIFL fraud suspect seeks HRC intervention
Deepthi Perera alias Chulaka Gunawardene, accused of fraud in the failed Central Investment and Finance Ltd (CIFL), has petitioned the Human Rights Commission (HRC) seeking relief on what is believed to be over ‘illegal arrest’. Asked to comment, Mr. Perera, a former CEO of CIFL, confirmed that he had petitioned the HRC but declined to divulge as to the grounds on which he has sought the relief from HRC.
Mr. Perera, facing charges of defrauding CIFL depositors, was arrested at the Colombo airport in August 2015 on return to the country in possession of a fake passport after ostensibly hiding in Cambodia. He was subsequently charged in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court by the CID in a case of defrauding Rs. 800 million of funds belonging to nearly 2,150 depositors.
Thereafter there has been a proposal to the Central Bank by the CIFL Board of Directors of the Central Investment and Finance Ltd (CIFL) to appoint Mr. Perera as the managing agent and a letter to this effect was presented to court and expected to be discussed when the case resumes on December 9. Last week a delegation of investors from Germany looking at a bailout package for CIFL was in Sri Lanka and had discussions with many officials. The team is expected to return for further meetings.