COLOMBO : Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today (5) to file a formal statement regarding an alleged illegal acquisition of his property by Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.
Arriving at the CID headquarters with a file of documents he described as crucial evidence, Salley claimed that a plot of land he owned, valued at approximately Rs. 150 million, was acquired by Karunanayake for a mere Rs. 15 million without his consent.
Speaking to the media outside the CID premises, Salley detailed the origins of the dispute, alleging it began when he approached the former Finance Minister for assistance with a bank loan.
“I initially asked Ravi Karunanayake for help to secure a loan through a bank,” Salley told reporters. “Instead of a standard loan, he suggested that he could come on board as a ‘joint investor’ to help manage the property.”
Salley alleges that this arrangement was a pretext for a hostile takeover. He claims the transfer of ownership occurred during a period when he was remanded in custody over a separate legal matter.
“When I was in prison, Ravi Karunanayake took over the land without my knowledge or my wife’s knowledge,” Salley charged. “He continues to keep it to this day. This is a complaint I made a long time ago, but no action was previously taken. I came today to provide a further statement to ensure this file is finally examined.”
The former Governor expressed hope that the new investigation would rectify the financial discrepancy and the alleged breach of trust. “The property is worth Rs. 150 million, yet it was taken for just Rs. 15 million. I hope justice will be delivered this time,” he added.
The CID has recorded Salley’s statement and accepted the documents submitted for further investigation. Mr. Karunanayake has not yet issued a public response to these specific allegations.
