27 February 2019
Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Ravi Waidyalankara was suddenly sacked as Head of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) today after a cabinet paper was presented at the weekly ministerial meeting by President Maithripala Sirisena recommending that his services be discontinued with immediate effect. It was alleged that he attempted sabotage of high-profile investigations by the FCID into the dealings of top members of the Rajapaksa regime. He has maintained relationships with the very suspects his Division was supposed to be investigating, including former Secretary to the ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He was seen to be copying sensitive files pertaining to the investigation of the purchase of MiG-27 aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2006 – a highly suspect procurement in which Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his cousin Udayanga Weeratunga were the key players in the corrupt deal. Soon after he copied the files, he left for Singapore for medical treatment. However, FCID investigations revealed that several suspects in the MiG investigation reside in Singapore raising grave suspicion about Waidyalankara’s moves.
Weeks later a similar incident was reported with Waidyalankara (in the picture above) attempting to move files related to the Krrish deal investigation. Namal Rajapaksa, Nalaka Godahewa and others are at the center of the Krrish corruption scandal. Namal Rajapaksa is the eldest son of former president Rajapakse and is a sitting parliamentarian.
The FCID told the Colombo Fort Magistrate that four suspects including former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nalaka Godahewa have been identified over the Puttalam land deal. According to the FCID the suspects including Godahewa had sold the property to Krrish Company under a forged deed for Rs 40 million.
Waidyalankara was also known to be close to Sri Lankan businessman Rienzie Edwards who has been indicted in the United States for money laundering.
Investigators are looking at several properties Waidyalankara is reported to have purchased using various front-men. The properties include a recently renovated house at Torrington Gardens Colombo 05 considered a prime location in the capital.
Colombo Telegraph reported.
