Mahinda tries to explain and makes a mess of it : Here is the evidence

SLFP claims that they have not been informed of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to sue the New York Times over the recent article alleging that he had taken bribes from China Harbour to fund his presidential campaign which he claims are false allegations. The SLFP commented on this in response to a statement made by Rajapaksa at a public meeting of the SLPP recently held in Kurunegala.

At the event Rajapaksa had said : 

“Everyone is saying I should initiate legal action. Therefore I have prepared to send a letter of demand now. The party will also do the same because they have accused me of giving this money to the party and not for my personal use. We have given instructions to the lawyers accordingly”.

Not informed of filing a case

However, when inquired, SLFP and the UPFA both said they have not been informed by the Mahinda Rajapaksa faction to initiate legal action against the NYT.

They also said facing serious allegations the former President is now attempting to mislead the public by distorting facts that were reported by the publication.

Instead, they point out that no mention had been made of giving the received funds to either political party. 

The relevant section in the NYT report is as follows : 

At least $7.6 million was dispensed from China Harbor’s account at Standard Chartered Bank to affiliates of Mr. Rajapaksa’s campaign, according to a document, seen by The Times, from an active internal government investigation. The document details China Harbor’s bank account number — ownership of which was verified — and intelligence gleaned from questioning of the people to whom the checks were made out.

With 10 days to go before polls opened, around $3.7 million was distributed in checks: $678,000 to print campaign T-shirts and other promotional material and $297,000 to buy supporters gifts, including women’s saris. Another $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting Mr. Rajapaksa’s electoral bid, while two checks totalling $1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees, his official residence.

Most of the payments were from a sub-account controlled by China Harbor, named “HPDP Phase 2,” shorthand for Hambantota Port Development Project.

They also point out that the recent communique issued by Rajapaksa does not address the exact allegations being levelled against him. This fact has also been pointed out by Political analysts. 

Quoting his press release they say : 

In his communique, he has replied to the allegations through the below section,

"China harbour did not provide any funds to my 2015 Presidential bid. Despite claiming that the cash was given to my acquaintances and managers of my campaign by sending the cheques to the Temple trees through volunteers they have been vague about the details. This is a purposeful attempt to sling mud”

However the allegations against him are far worse.

They say the direct allegation is against Rajapaksa with the report saying the company in charge of constructing the Hambantota harbour had given him USD 7.6 Million for his campaign while revealing what the money was used for (around $3.7 million was distributed in checks: $678,000 to print campaign T-shirts and other promotional material and $297,000 to buy supporters gifts, including women’s saris. Another $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting Mr. Rajapaksa’s electoral bid) while even mentioning the accounts the money was dispensed from.

Who believes anything Godahewa says? 

However people who are out on bail for corruption charges such as Nalaka Godahewa has not stepped in to absolve Rajapaksa of these accusations. They say the NYT revelations are nothing but a smear campaign. Instead of addressing each allegation directly they appear to be using words to distort the report while trying to shift public focus away from the issues. 

With him not responding to the allegations, we have now had to find the truth of the report ourselves. 

But the issue is so called patriot Rajapaksa did not use either system and instead took out a loan from the Chinese Exim Bank while making payments from it to China harbour taking the investment back to the country of origin. 

Severity of the allegations

It is this China Harbour that gives funds for his 2015 campaign. 

World Bank Revelations

The main company of China Harbour, China Communication Construction was blacklisted by the World Bank preventing them from bidding for any of their projects for the next seven years starting from 2009 due to a corrupt deal they were involved in the Philippines. 

China Harbour track record in Bangladesh 


Meanwhile since 2018 China harbour has been banned in Bangladesh with the project by them halted due to providing birbe of USD 100 000 to a government officer for a road development project. 

This is the company that the Rajapaksa’s handed over the harbour construction after taking loans for massive interest sums proving they have pawned the country off in return of commissions from these projects. 

They say the Swedish television has proved how under the Rajapaksa regime the country fell in to the Chinese debt trap and that Rajapaksa should now address these allegations in a proper manner.