Tilvin Silva comments on Chamal Rajapaksa's failure to honor the challenge

COLOMBO (News 1st)  General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva claimed that the government had to again appoint Sunil Handunetti as the Chairman of COPE. These comments were made at the Tangalle Electorate Bala Mandala meeting yesterday (February 10). Silva further said that as soon as Handunetti was appointed he had got the Audit reports for state institutions. He noted that in a backdrop where estate workers are pleading for a wage of Rs. 1000 per day, SriLankan Airlines - a white elephant that incurs a loss of Rs. 160 billion pays salaries of more than Rs. 100,000 to a group of employees. Handunetti had mentioned that a meeting to purchase new aircraft for Sri Lankan Airlines had taken place at Chamal Rajapaksa's official residence. Chamal Rajapaksa denied the meeting and said he would resign if proven. Handunetti showed the Auditor General's report that mentioned the meeting. Though Chamal Rajapaksa promised to resign from his parliamentary position, he had remained silent afterwards. He added that what happened really was that Chamal Rajapaksa's son, Shashi Rajapaksa was a director of the national carrier. The sons and in-laws misused their father's power to make decisions at the official residence. Silva added that this is the very manner they destroyed the national assets.