Charlie Mahendran claims his son is innocent

Colombo (News1st): Charlie Mahendran the father of Controversial Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran has written an article to the Sunday Island today under the heading A BOURNE IDENTITY: HOW MY SON WAS MADE TO LOOK LIKE A CRIMINAL. In the article Mahendran attempts to raise two points and questions "what are the facts and why is Arjuna not willing to trust that he will get a fair hearing in the current political set-up in Sri Lanka?" The article goes on to say "None of the Pitipana Committee, Supreme Court, and COPE Report was able to attribute wrongdoing to Arjuna. Then the Presidential Commission was formed". The article says it is alleged that Arjuna passed Price Sensitive information to his son in law whose company was a primary dealer in Sri Lankan Treasury Bonds. As the second point, Charlie Mahendran says that there will be a highly politicized show of Criminal process if Arjuna sets foot in Sri Lanka. The article goes onto note that the highly public and televised arrest of the son in law of Arjuna Mahendran, Arjun Aloysius on independence day, clearly demonstrated the politicized nature of this case. The article also says certain political operatives and their media backers have spent the past four years using Arjuna Mahendran as the mantra to impose a shroud of corruption on one party while deflecting attention from the misdeeds of the other party. The Pitipana Committee which consisted of three known UNP sympathizers, all lacked financial expertise and knowledge to look into the issuance of bonds. However, they specifically called for an inquiry into PTL and stated that their remit did not encompass a thorough investigation. The COPE does not have a remit to point fingers, the remit of COPE is to establish the details. The Supreme Court meanwhile has never heard an application that looked into the detail of bond issuance. Contrary to Charlie Mahendran's unfounded claim and blatant falsehood, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry found to the contrary. These are the exact words from the bond report. "We are of the view that, the quantum of the sum to which Perpetual Treasuries Ltd gained or benefited from inside information ["Price sensitive information"] and "Market manipulation", can be reasonably estimated at Rs. 8,529, 964, 495. The government that was appointed in 2015 with Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP as the lead component is still very much holding the reigns of power. The judicial process in Sri Lanka has been upheld as robust and independent by none other than Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Is this the law that Arjuna Mahendran fears coming to face?

Had it not been for the efforts of the privately held media led by team News1st the full impact and details of the largest fraud ever perpetrated on the Republic of Sri Lanka and its people would never have surfaced. The Presidential Commission of Inquiry delivered its report to the President in December 2017, 370 days later the CBSL which in 2015 and 2016 was listed under Ranil Wickremesinghe has failed to produce a forensic audit of the treasury bonds and bills issued during the Arjuna Mahendran years. The call for a forensic audit was initially made by team News1st. Long before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry delivered its report. From before the infamous breakfast meeting, the issuance of treasury bonds in February 2015 and again in March 2016 were clearly pre-meditated, planned and executed with the full knowledge of those responsible at the time for the affairs of the Central Bank. The truth has a habit invariably of raising not only its head but also the conscience of the people of the country. The stark reality is that whilst the Presidential Commission attributed a direct loss of over Rs. 688 million to Arjuna Mahendran personally, one is able to crow about Arjuna Mahendran's purported innocence only because the legal action envisaged by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry has (370 days later) not even started. It is clear from that report that Arjuna Mahendran, the hand-picked star banker, has been subject to a legal process, a personal liability in access of Rs. 688 million now long overdue. Whilst he savours his freedom, his protectors and he will be aware of what awaits him from an independent judicial process in Sri Lanka. How dare you, Charlie Mahendran point your finger when it is your son, the Baliol educated man, gone wrong who has been at the centrepiece of the greatest financial fraud of this country. To Charlie Mahendran,  Gentlemen are never in a hurry, the people of Sri Lanka have watched over sleaze and corruption over the past four years in connection with the bond scam and will welcome your initiative in keeping with the high standards you preach by returning your son to the shores of Sri Lanka where your friend of several years standing, is still the Prime Minister.

Political Expression

UPFA MP Shehan Semasinghe speaking about the article stated that Arjun Mahendran's father, Charlie Mahendran has only remembered his son 4 years after the 1st bond scam on the country that took place in February 2015. He noted that the Newspapers continuously reported on the facts revealed by the Presidential Commission on how the stage was prepared for this bond scam and the media reported that the issuance of the bonds took place on the advice of the prime minister. MP Semasinghe went onto note that Arjuna Mahendran and his team who, destroyed the economy of the country, who deprived the people of this country from having three meals a day, who scorned the country in the international arena as the country with a central bank that was robbed by government, are coming out and asking as to how they were branded as Criminals. The parliamentarian stated that while Ranil Wickramasinghe is protecting Arjuna Mahendran, Arjuna Mahendran is protecting the prime minister and the family members of Arjuna Mahendran are now working to protect Ranil Wickremeinsghe. He added that just as the article was written, he requested Arjuna Mahendran to come to the country and face the charges filed against him and prove his innocence. UPFA MP Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardena noted that Ranil Wickremesinghe stayed back at the temple trees and said that he is the prime minister. He noted that the Wickremesinghe stayed back not in the name of democracy but in fear of the bond scam being investigated and him ending up behind bars.