MR rejects allegations of investments in Dubai

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected all the allegations levelled against him including that he is owning the Marriot hotel in Dubai and an investment in the Steel Corporation, a statement from his office said. 'The newly set up police unit, the FCID has filed a B report informing the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court that they have begun investigations into a complaint that a sum totalling USD 48 million invested in the Steel Corporation and a sum of USD 190 million invested in the Marion hotel in Dubai actually belongs to me and that the owner of these properties Nandana Lokuvithana is only a front man. ' 'The B report states that the FCID had commenced this investigation on the basis of an anonymous letter which had been referred to them. The FCID has been set up with a view to harassing political opponents and the legality and propriety of the establishment of this unit is already before the Supreme Court.' he said. It is very unusual for the police to report to courts that they are carrying out an investigation on the basis of an anonymous letter. The FCID which functions as an extension of the UNP may have filed this B report to convey to the public the false impression that there is a 'court case' relating to concealed assets owned by me. 'With a parliamentary election in the offing, it would be useful for my opponents to spread such a perception among the public. This is yet another clever and insidious way of carrying out false propaganda against me. I wish to inform the public that the Steel Corporation and the Dubai Marion hotel belong to whoever owns them and not to me.'