Nissanka Senadhipathi, chairman of Avant-Garde Maritime Services, appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Tuesday morning to give a statement.
The statement relates to an ongoing commission investigation into the “Krrish” project transaction, all three outlets reporting the appearance said.
The Daily Mirror described Senadhipathi as the former chairman of Avant-Garde Maritime Services, while Ada Derana identified him as the company’s chairman. Neither report said how long he was at the commission, what he was asked, or whether he is being treated as a suspect or a witness.
No allegation against Senadhipathi in connection with the Krrish matter has been made public by CIABOC, and he has not been charged.
The Krrish investigation
Dealings involving the India-based Krrish company have generated litigation in Sri Lanka for several years, including over the Krrish tower project in Colombo.
SLPP parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa is a defendant in a separate criminal case arising from the same company’s dealings. The Attorney General’s indictment alleges he committed criminal breach of trust by obtaining Rs. 70 million from Krrish on the pretext of promoting rugby in Sri Lanka and then misusing the funds. LankaNewz reported that the Colombo High Court fixed the trial to begin on July 7 after it was first taken up in April.
Tuesday’s appearance indicates CIABOC’s inquiry runs alongside the matters already before the courts, though the reports did not specify which aspect of the transaction investigators are examining, or what connection Senadhipathi is said to have to it.
A recurring name in state-contract scrutiny
Senadhipathi’s company has come under parliamentary scrutiny on a separate front. A COPE sub-committee was told in July that Avant Garde had been receiving about US$320,000 a month from Sri Lanka’s floating armoury operation — revenue members said would otherwise have been due to the State.
Sources: Ada Derana, Daily Mirror, Hiru News.
