Foundation owned by Azath Salley owes more than Rs 3.4 m to Sathosa; FCID tells court

A foundation owned by former governor Azath Salley owes more than Rs 3.4 million to state-owned Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) for a lease purchase of its storage facility, investigators told court yesterday (Aug 5).

During a Fort Magistrate’s court hearing, the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) said the total debt included the rent and the electricity bill until last year.

The FCID observed a departure from the due process while purchasing the facility on lease, by citing that the relevant documents had not been submitted to legally acquire the facility.

According to the FCID, the facility had been leased out upon instructions of the Chairman of Sathosa (also known as CWE).

Further, the investigation body had pointed out that the Foundation was not a registered entity and that it had handed over the facility to two businessmen who had then paid Rs 210,000 to the Foundation for the storage of dried sprats. 

A complaint had been filed by Ananda Sagara Thero over the case with a special committee which was appointed by the Police Headquarters to accept complaints against former governors Salley and M.L.A.M Hizbullah, and Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

During yesterday's hearing, Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered four telecommunication service providers to release telephone records required to carry out the probe.

Court also instructed the FCID to submit a progress report on the investigations into the case in due course.