EC asked to obtain asset declaration of one of Sri Lanka’s richest men before accepting his nomination

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Executive Director Centre for Human Rights and Research, Keerthi Tennakoon, has requested Election Commission Chairman, Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa, to delay acceptance of businessman Dhammika Perera’s nomination, as an SLPP National List MP, until the EC receives his asset declaration.

The EC, appointed in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, consistsof five persons.Tennakoon, who has served as Governor of Uva, Central and Southern Province Governor, during Maithripala Sirisena’s tenure, as the President, said that Dhammika Perera shouldn’t receive special treatment.Tennakoon, too, was a favourite with Sirisena, being catapulted twice, from being an NGO activist to the exalted status of a Province Governor.

Believed by some to be Sri Lanka’s richest man, Dhammika Perera’s investments included casinos, banks, hotels as well as shipping. Perera would give up positions held in his business empire to enter Parliament. Dhammika Perera will receive the newly created Ministry of Technology and Investment Promotion, tasked with promoting foreign direct investment and private sector investment.In a letter, dated June 10, to Punchihewa, the civil society activist said that at the 2015 and 2020 general elections the elected and appointed received their parliamentary seats only after they submitted asset declarations. The EC was acting on the instructions issued by Punchihewa, at that tim, in his capacity as the Director, Legal of the outfit.

The SLPP yesterday submitted the business tycoon’s name to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa.Tennakoon told The Island that the EC should ensure the instructions, issued in respect of the 2015 and 2020 general elections, weren’t violated. Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, BoI, Sri Lanka Telecom, Registrar of Persons, Immigration and Emigration, Colombo Port City Commission, Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Information and Technology Agency and Lotus Tower have been brought under the newly created super Ministry.