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UNF
politicians quizzed as probe on roofing sheets widens
Police said four suspects had been arrested and their probe was focused on how large quantities of roofing sheets imported under an Indian credit line ended up in private warehouses and hardware stores. Detectives said they had recovered more than 3,000 sheets during raids on warehouses and hardware stores in various places. The roofing sheets were meant for free distribution among the poor. Housing Ministry Additional Secretary A. Seneviratne, who is heading a separate investigation into the alleged racket, told The Sunday Times that the previous government which imported the stock had taken a decision to distribute the sheets through all parliamentarians irrespective of their pary affiliations, but closer to the elections, only government members got the sheets. Former Colombo district UNP MP Lilantha Perera, who is in the centre of the controversy, claimed in a media release that he stopped the distribution of the roofing sheets on the instruction of the President after she pointed out that such acts would be a violation of election laws. He said he was making arrangements to distribute the sheets as soon as the elections were over but the police raid on a warehouse stalled the process. Mr. Perera said the roofing sheets were kept at the warehouse because there was no space at his residence and he had also handed back seven bundles to the National Housing Authority. |
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