Constructions of Tyre workshop with Nandana Lokuvithana connections ... suspended

Constructions of Tyre workshop with Nandana Lokuvithana connections ... suspended

Nandana Jayadeva Lokuvithana is a name that was in the news because of numerous types of 'deals' and a certain tyre workshop which was being constructed with Nandana Jayadeva involved has by now been suspended, Cabinet Spokesman has informed yesterday.

After having declared opened the Volkswagon workshop which created some uproar and just a day after that Prime Minister Ranil has toured Horana and has

initiated construction of this particular tyre workshop and Nandana Lokuvithana appearing in video-frames there was a matter of surprise to those who knew this character. The Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha expressed that the Prime Minister came to know as to who the investor for the project was only on the morning of the day when the foundation stone was laid for the said project. He further mentioned that a decision had been given to dispose of the land envisaged to be used for the erection of the workshop for a sum of Rs. 100 per acre and he emphasised that government lands cannot be given at that amount. He however did not expose the names of Ministers who were responsible in that connection.

Nandana Jayadeva Lokuvithana has been exposed by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) Panama Papers as a Dubai-based Sri Lankan businessman who had been involved in various shady deals of a cloudy nature by maintaining close connections with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He has been named as the person who has bought over Dubai Mariott Hotel; but he has refused to accept it on certain occasions. Lokuvithana who has been born in Nattandiya has, it is understood, been introduced to former President Mr. Rajapaksa by Sajin Vaas Goonawardene during the past regime.

He has become the focal point of dialogues concerning Sri Lanka Steel Corporation, transactions involving Lanka Industries and Nilona Fashion. Reports were published that there are cloudy deals in the form of financial investments across the Republic of Seychelles. Panama Papers which divulged Black Money investors and captured attention the world over during the past mentioned a handful of Sri Lankans whose names were quoted and it also carried the name of Nandana Lokuvithana. The point that Minister Rajitha commenting that Prime Miniter Ranil was not aware that he is involved in the Horana Tyre workshop until the last moment is also something that poses a question.