Objections to Hilton deal: Committee to review payments

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) decided to resolve the outstanding issues at Hotel Developers Ltd., the owning company of Colombo Hilton.

For this purpose, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who chairs the CCEM meetings, asked Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake to make recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers on compensation payments due to Cornel Perera and Nihal Sri Amerasekera.

It was Mr. Perera who had initiated the Hilton project when the late J.R. Jayewardene was the President. Mr. Amerasekera has staked his claims on the basis of his intervention on issues with the foreign investors saved large amounts of money whilst resolving disputes without litigation.

Whilst a cabinet memorandum in respect of Mr. Perera was being awaited, Minister Karunanayake recommended a payment of Rs. 300 million to Mr. Amerasekera.
The matter came before the Cabinet of Ministers last Tuesday. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe raised strong objections followed by a few others. The matter has now been put on hold.
President Sirisena has requested Premier Wickremesinghe to appoint a committee to go into the claims of both Mr. Amerasekera and Mr. Perera. He was asked to report back thereafter.

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