Book Description

`Colombo Port Bunkering Privatisation' under IMF, World Bank and ADB privatization agenda, discloses a scandalous privatization, annulled as illegal and fraudulent by a 3-Judge Supreme Court Bench of Sri Lanka, presided by Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva; compelling Secretary, Finance Ministry / Secretary Treasury, P.B. Jayasundera to resign. It involved, John Keells Holdings Ltd., an UN Global Compact Co. committed to combat fraud and corruption. It is an `eye opener' on socio-political realities, of those holding selected and elected influential and powerful public office, including Secretary, Finance Ministry, P.B. Jayasundera, compromising national and public interest, with scant regard for the `rule of law', and hollow dictates by international agencies, on governance, transparency and level playing field. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in a Memorandum to Cabinet Ministers opposed this privatization. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe disregarding the President had pushed the deal, with his Advisor, former Secretary, Ministry of Finance, R. Paskaralingam; approved by Economic Sub-Committee of Cabinet, including Finance Minister, K.N. Choksy, PC. It reveals condoning of fraud and corruption by confidantes of those at helm in a country; with governments and society uninhibitedly bestowing upon corrupt miscreants, even more recognition and position, without arraigning them, as warranted, before the law; President Mahinda Rajapakse re-appoints, P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Finance Ministry / Secretary Treasury. Susantha Ratnayake, continues as Chairman, John Keells, and helms Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; appointed Chairman, Sri Lanka Tea Board, by Government New Chief Justice, J.A.N. de Silva and other Supreme Court Judges act to accommodate necessity of President Mahinda Rajapakse, when P.B. Jayasundera is permitted to be re-appointed to same powerful position. A sole woman, Justice Shiranee Tilakawardena courageously dissents, upholding principles of moral turpitude and democracy to keep organs of State within the law - `anyone would balk at such re-appointment'; 2 pages of Judgment suppressed from media.