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Misappropriation of Rs 195 mn: Fort Magistrate clears way for continuation of CID probe
Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage has turned down a request made by Ajith Pathirana PC to suspend a CID investigation into a case involving approximately Rs 195 million that had been allegedly defrauded from a group of shareholders following the sale of a plot of land at Kollupitiya, majority shareholder being a UK-based limited liability company. Pathirana appeared for UK citizen Kathirvelpillai Satkunam, the chief suspect in the case.
Counsel appearing for the aggrieved party, Access Direct (UK) Ltd, Nalinda Indatissa PC pointed out that an order to suspend the on-going CID investigation before its completion is illegal, and therefore, the Defence Counsel is requesting an illegal order from the court.
The hearing was held in open court with primary suspect Kathirvelpillai Satkunam physically present in the dock.
The CID’s Commercial Crime Investigation Division has been investigating the complaint about purchasing 219.5 perches of land on Galle Road, Kollupitiya, in 2004. Ten shareholders of a UK-based company, Access Direct UK Ltd, had invested 1.3 million sterling pounds in purchasing the land through a wholly-owned registered subsidiary company in Sri Lanka, Access Direct Colombo Ltd. This land had then been sold in July 2010.
The CID’s investigation uncovered that the land was sold for Rs 790 million. It has been established that only Rs 595,507,721 of the money received from the sale of the land was sent to Access Direct UK Ltd. The CID told the court that the remaining Rs 194,800,279 had been obtained fraudulently, and the amount had been misused in a criminal breach of trust.
Court papers reveal that the CID had recorded a statement from another fellow shareholder of Access Direct UK Ltd, Mr Shanmugasunderam Surendran known as Shawn Surendran. At present he works for Riverstone Corporation Ltd, SPC House, Restmor way, Wallington, Surrey, United Kingdom. His statement was recorded at Bogala Court, Colombo 5. He invested hundred thousand pounds initially at Access Direct UK Ltd and then a further thirty seven thousand pounds. He reported on February 23, 2011 to the rest of shareholders on behalf of the primary suspect Mr Satkunam that the land was disinvested for Rs 658m. He told the CID that he got the figure from Mr Ron Smith of Wilkins Kennedy a firm of accountants in the UK. He also told the CID that he wasn’t aware that the land was actually sold for Rs 790m.
In November 2022, a travel ban was placed on primary suspect Kathirvelpillai Satkunam. When Mr Satkunam tried to re-enter Sri Lanka on February 27 this year, he was arrested by the officers of the Katunayake Unit of the CID and produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court on February 28 after recording a statement.
The CID requested the Magistrate to remand the suspect for further investigations until March 14. However, he was granted bail on the condition of two sureties of Rs 5 million each. On March 08, the travel ban was lifted temporarily, until the next court appearance on May 17, 2023 on condition that two sureties value of Rs 10m and property bail worth Rs 10m to be placed in addition to the existing two sureties, each value of Rs 5m, in total of Rs 30m.
On May 17, the court yet again temporarily lifted the travel ban imposed on the suspect until the next court date, September 13, 2023 with the same sureties being in place. The investigation continues.
Ajith Pathirana PC, J.L.B.M. Karunananda and R.A. Himasha Fernando appeared for the suspect. Nalinda Indatissa PC and Dinesh Dodangoda represented the aggrieved party.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
