Mr. Viranjith Thambugala, President of Aura Lanka Company, testified before Anuradhapura Additional Magistrate Ms. Manodi Hewawasam, claiming that he possesses significant wealth, allegedly acquired from foreign countries, and that he could settle half of the country’s debt with it. He further alleged that certain politicians and high-ranking officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had stolen his illegally obtained wealth.
In his open court statement, Mr. Thambugala declared that he has audio and video evidence proving that some politicians and CID officials had embezzled his assets. He revealed that the stress of these incidents had driven him to contemplate suicide.
Mr. Thambugala also stated that he had been willing to install CCTV cameras in every police station across the country through his company, Aura Lanka Constructions, as requested by Mr. Tiran Alas, the minister in charge of the police. However, he claimed that when he refused to hand over the funds earmarked for the project directly to the minister, Mr. Alas and the police became hostile towards him.
The businessman made these allegations during his statement regarding a complaint filed by the CID’s Illegal Assets Investigation Division, accusing him of involvement in illegal mining activities. He said that his statement was voluntary and given under the guidance of Mr. Upali Jayamanna.
Thambugala went on to allege that prominent lawyers, including Rakitha Rajapaksa (son of President’s lawyer Wijedasa Rajapaksa) and Eranga Weliange (son-in-law of MP Palitha Range Bandara), visited him and warned that he was being investigated under the Money Laundering Act. According to Thaougala, they told him that if the investigation proceeded, he could face imprisonment and the freezing of his assets, similar to other high-profile cases.
He further claimed that former Deputy Inspector General of CID, Prasad Ranasinghe, and the current Director of the CID’s Illegal Assets Investigation Division, Laksiri Gital, demanded a sum of Rs. 30 crore to halt the investigation against him. After negotiations, Thambugala said, the amount was reduced to Rs. 5 crore, of which he paid Rs. 2 crore. In addition, he stated that he gave Rs. 2.5 crore to Chief Inspector Sampath Rajakaruna, who leads the Illegal Assets Investigation Division. Thaougala asserted that he possesses both audio and video evidence, as well as witnesses, to substantiate his claims.
He also emphasized the extent of his financial assets, though he refrained from providing exact figures. Thambugala reiterated that his wealth was legally earned from foreign countries, stressing that none of it was obtained locally. He expressed frustration over the harassment and baseless accusations against him, which have led to the suspension of some of his bank accounts and caused him immense mental distress.
Mr. Thambugala further alleged that Minister Tiran Alas acted with animosity towards him after he refused to comply with the minister’s demand to hand over the money for the police station renovations. He claimed that officials from the CID’s Illegal Assets Investigation Division sought to extort large sums of money from him and involved an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in witness intimidation, in retaliation against one of his associates, Mr. Mahanama.
These explosive allegations come as Mr. Thambugala faces ongoing investigations related to illegal asset accumulation, with potential legal ramifications unfolding as his claims continue to stir public attention.
