‘Avant Garde audios’ to bribery commission

Deputy minister Ranjan Ramanayake has handed over two audio tapes to the bribery commission, which contain two telephone conversations between Avant Garde chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and Sayura Samarasundara, chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Drugs Corporation, which comes under minister Rajitha Senaratne.

Ramanayake said he filed a complaint of attempted bribing against Senadhipathi and another against Samarasundara of accepting bribe money.

An audio tape between Senadhipathi and Samarasundara, in which the Senaratne’s secretary has established that he had received Rs. five million on behalf of the minister, was first made public yesterday by lankaenews website.

Given below is that audio tape:

Thereafter, another tape was posted on the facebook account of Senaratne, in which the secretary informs Senadhipathi that the minister had refused to accept the money.

Given below is that audio tape:

Handing over both tapes to the commission, Ramanayake stressed that both parties should be investigated.

The audios establish that money changed hands, and it should be found out for what purpose, and Senaratne says he refused the money.

But, his secretary has accepted the money, which too, is an offence.

Ramanayake shows cheque too.

In addition, Ramanayake placed before the media a copy of a cheque for Rs. five million.

Senaratne has said at cabinet media briefings on several occasions that Avant Garde had tried to bribe him, and responding the company challenged him to prove it.