Rajapaksa fears prosecution of entire family by Sirisena govt.

From The Hindu  

"Next, it will be Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Yoshitha Rajapaksa", the former President said.

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday expressed fears that the new government led by his successor Maithripala Sirisena might end up prosecuting his entire family, a day after his two younger brothers faced questioning by anti-graft investigators.

“Next, it will be Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Yoshitha Rajapaksa”, the former President said.

Namal — a Parliamentarian — and Yoshitha are Rajapaksa’s sons while Gotabhaya is his younger brother.

Mr. Rajapaksa’s comments came after he visited his youngest brother Basil Rajapaksa at the national hospital where he is warded under remand custody.

Mr Basil, the economic development minister in his older brother’s nearly decade-long rule, was arrested on Wednesday by the police’s Financial Crime Investigation Unit.

He was accused of misappropriating 77 million rupees of state funds meant for livelihood development.

Mr. Rajapaksa said his family was being hounded by the Sirisena government on trumped-up charges.

Mr. Gotabhaya, who served as the powerful defence ministry secretary, appeared on Thursday for the second time before the anti-graft commission as Basil faced his own interrogation behind bars.

The new government has pursued complaints of misdeeds under Rajapaksa’s regime and several top ranking officials have already faced prosecution.

Yoshitha wants to join father’s personal security

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa has requested President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to assign him as an officer in the personal security unit of his father.

State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene says that an investigation is already being conducted by the Navy commander regarding Yoshitha’s conduct.

However, a final decision has not been made on Yoshitha’s request to join his father’s personal security staff.

JVP asks why Yoshitha granted leave to travel overseas

JVP member of the Western Provincial Council Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has fired a letter to the Defence Secretary inquiring why Yoshitha Rajapaksa was allowed to travel overseas to Dubai at a time the Navy is conducting an investigation against him.

Rajapaksa is a Lieutenant in the Navy.

His brother Namal Rajapaksa had said that leave had been granted to him by the Navy commander to travel overseas on a private tour.

But questions have been raised to the effect that it is against regulations for an officer under investigation to be granted leave to travel overseas.

Jayatissa has questioned that earlier Yoshitha had been granted leave saying it was for his wedding and whether this time he has been extended another privilege to go on leave because he is the son of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
However srilankamirror learns that Yoshitha had gone overseas seeking medical treatment to a leg injury.

See Below:-

Yoshitha's CSN On The Verge Of Closure - One Billion Tax Throws Company Into Deep Crisis

From Asian Mirror

It looks as if Carlton Sports Network - a TV channel started by the sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa - is on the verge of a serious financial crisis which could even lead to its closure.

The government - through its interim budget which was presented to Parliament yesterday - imposed a one-time tax of Rs. 1 billion on all sports networks that dodged taxation. Although Capital Maharaja Organization also has a sports channel, the TV station, according to sources, has a clean tax file.

Sources from CSN told Asian Mirror on Friday that the company was not in a position to pay Rs. 1 billion to the government by way of taxes. This means the company - which is also on the verge of losing its cricket broadcasting rights - has been plunged into a serious financial crisis.
In this context, observers say, the closure of the controversial sports channel, is very much written on the wall.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet sub-committee was also set up to look into the possibility granting broadcasting rights of international cricket matches to Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation - a privilege that was enjoyed by CSN, run by the Rajapaksa sons.

It was awarded the rights for three years by Sri Lanka Cricket in May 2012, despite an earlier Cabinet decision to award the rights to SLRC. At the time, speculation was rife that the deal was fraudulent.

A month later, Sri Lanka Cricket was forced to admit that CSN did belong to Namal Rajapaksa and Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the two elder sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, SLC defended the decision to award rights to CSN, claiming that the deal took place according to proper procedures.