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Magistrate orders full report on lease deal involving Minister Samarasinghe
View(s):By Ranjith Padmasiri
Mount Lavinia Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura has ordered the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau (FIB) to investigate and submit a comprehensive report into the incident where Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe is alleged to have used a forged deed to lease out a two-storey building in Dehiwela owned by the National Workers Institute trade union.
Minister Samarasinghe is alleged to have fraudulently leased the property to General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Service Union Mahinda Jayasinghe, who is now Deputy Minister of Labour.
The magistrate gave the order after considering objections raised by Maithri Gunaratne, PC, who appeared for the aggrieved party along with Kisal Senanayake, to the FIB’s request to refer the investigation to the Attorney General.
Mr Gunaratne emphasised that the property in question is located in Dehiwela and that it had been leased for Rs 3.6 million using a forged deed.
The FIB contended that there is a lack of clarity regarding the ownership of the property and this required further investigation. It said that the office bearers of the National Workers Institute had changed from time to time and this required the investigation to be referred to the AG.
Mr Gunaratne, though, argued against any move to refer the investigation to the AG before it had been completed, and further pointed out that the B report submitted to court by Police confirms those involved in the incident. He urged court to order a full investigation into the matter.
After considering the matter, the magistrate ordered Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation and submit a report to court on February 21.
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