By The Pulseline News Desk
Former National Agency for Public Private Partnership (NAPPP) Chairman Thilan Wijesinghe has categorically denied allegations linking him to alleged violations of anti-corruption legislation in the awarding of State development contracts, calling for clarification over his inclusion in a list presented in Parliament.
In a statement issued on October 9, Wijesinghe has responded to remarks made by Minister Bimal Ratnayake in Parliament on October 8, during which his name was included in a list relating to alleged corruption.
“I categorically deny the allegation and am completely unaware of any such case or any formal or informal allegations of this nature against me,” Wijesinghe has said.
He has said the allegations appeared to relate to 2010, when he had held no public office and was serving as Group Managing Director of Overseas Realty Ceylon PLC.
Wijesinghe has said he has subsequently served as the first Chairman of the NAPPP from 2017 to 2019 on an honorary basis, without receiving any remuneration.
He has maintained that the agency, which operated under the Ministry of Finance, had no legal authority to award or recommend State development contracts, adding that no such contracts had been entered into by the agency.
Seeking clarification, Wijesinghe has said he had contacted Ratnayake’s office to establish why his name had been included in the parliamentary list.
He has also stated that no cases were pending against him and that no State law enforcement agency had requested a statement from him in connection with the allegations.
Wijesinghe has said he would fully cooperate with the authorities if a formal investigation were initiated.
He has further noted that the official Hansard record of the October 8 parliamentary proceedings had not yet been released and was expected to become available next week.
Emphasising the potential reputational and financial consequences of publicly associating individuals with corruption allegations, Wijesinghe has called for a prompt clarification and correction of the parliamentary record.
His statement comes amid parliamentary scrutiny of alleged corruption and possible violations of anti-corruption legislation in connection with State development contracts.
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