Chair of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) – MP Harsha de Silva today (June 07) addressed the challenges and intimidation he has faced while leading the inquiry into the VFS fiasco.
MP Harsha detailed the significant hurdles faced during the VFS inquiry. “Certain people not only tried to intimidate me but are now resorting to slinging mud, falsely accusing me of being in cahoots with VFS to hush things up,” he stated.
“We will present a detailed report to Parliament, revealing everything we have uncovered during this investigation,” he declared. “I am committed to transparency and accountability in Sri Lankan governance, and these attempts to silence me will not succeed,” he added.
“Who wants to silence me? What if they kill me on the streets? Honorable Speaker, I am telling you firmly. You are responsible for my safety. This is a multi-billion dollar project. If I am killed on the streets, Honourable Speaker, those behind this will have to be held accountable. What do you say to me? For me to hush up this fraud and corruption? Can this threatening and intimidation happen?,” he further said.
MP de Silva was previously removed from the COPF Chair position twice ; once for intervening in a corrupt coal tender that saved the country a significant sum. He was reappointed unanimously by the Opposition.
Showers have been predicted at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces today (June 16), according to the Department of Meteorology.
Fairly heavy rains above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.
A few showers may occur in the Northern province and in the Anuradhapura district as well.
Strong winds of about 40-50kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Northwestern provinces and in the Trincomalee district.
The general public has also been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds.
Moratuwa Police launched an investigation after a 19-year-old youth had died after an electric elevator at a hotel collapsed on June 14.
The deceased is a resident of Arukgoda in Panadura, and was an employee at the Bolgoda Hotel in Moratuwa.
According to reports, the elevator, which was reportedly designated solely for the use of hotel employees, had given away when the youth was inside, injuring him critically. He was rushed to the Panadura Base Hospital but was pronounced dead upon admission.
The management of the hotel has lodged a complaint with the Moratuwa Police regarding the incident. Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the elevator collapse.
