It is learnt that the President Rajapakse has issued a last warning to a Minister in his own cabinet who is well noted for maintaining cordial and close relationships with drug peddlers and the underworld gangs, and who is giving protection to them.

The need for this final warning had arisen because this Minister had been harassing and intimidating the officials working in a Chinese Company by demanding kappam (extortion money) from the lorries transporting raw materials on a contract down the Colombo Katunayake Highway, reports say.

The first extortion act has been committed by the son of this Minister who had demanded kappam from lorries supplying sand, earth and granite for the construction of the express Highway. This Minister’s son was also implicated in crimes of selling heroin (kudu) to five star Hotel residents. As the allegedly criminal son who collected large ‘Muttiyas’ ( bribes and extortions) did not share the loot with the Minister father, the latter had decided that he himself must initiate such criminal earnings and collections – he had demanded extortions and bribes from the lorry suppliers. The Chinese Company which had been subject to such vicious persecution and intimidation by none other than a Minister of the very Govt. which crows about its integrity and rectitude from roof tops had complained to the President as a last resort. They had told the President that under the circumstances they will be forced to halt their contract, reports say. On top of this the local representative of the Chinese Co., a businessman too has made a complaint in this connection to the President. This Businessman has had very close ties with the President since the days the latter was in the Opposition.
Following this complaint the President has summoned this Minister and given a final warning. Moreover he had ordered the IGP to conduct a thorough investigation into this and forward him a comprehensive report. Complaints have been lodged with the Peliyagoda and Wattala police too on this issue.
When Lanka e news inquired from the Police media spokesman Prishantha Jayakody on this, he said, this was an incident that occurred about a month ago,and the Company that was victimized is now conducting its operations normally.

-LEN-