Publicly insulting a major world power and a friend of Sri Lanka is "unconscionable": MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has hit out at allegations referred to by the President regarding the newly opened Lotus Tower, saying that publicly insulting a major world power that has been friendly and helpful to Sri Lanka is "unconscionable".

During the opening ceremony of the Lotus Tower this week, President Maithripala Sirisena alleged that the TRC had paid an advance of Rs. 2 billion to a Chinese construction company that went by the name ALIT, before learning that it had been a fake entity.

“To say that a major Chinese government-owned conglomerate had disappeared with Rs 2 billion belonging to the Sri Lankan government is a horrendous insult to China,” Mr. Rajapaksa remarked in a statement.

The opposition leader stressed that according to documents available, the Rs 2 billion advance payment had been made to China National Electronics Corporation and not to ALIT, in 2012.

He further pointed out that the missing payment had not been included in the Auditor General's report as well.

Mr. Rajapaksa stated that construction of the tower began during his tenure as President, and claimed that the allegations had been made to prevent the former government from getting the credit.

He stressed that the tower would generate “enormous revenues” to the government while also becoming the “edifice” of Sri Lanka.

While accusing the leaders of the current government of concocting false statements, Mr. Rajapaksa urged the relevant individuals to issue a correction, if the President's remarks had been a result of wrong information been conveyed to him.

The Lotus Tower measuring 350 metres in height, is South Asia's tallest and has been built at a cost of USD 104 million with China funding a major portion of the cost as a loan.