An unusual story hit the headlines both in the mainstream media and social media last week, suggesting that a close aide of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Udith Lokubandara, had siphoned 35 million rupees from the Premier’s bank account over a period of time using the latter’s bank card.
Udith Lokubandara is not a high profile politician although he was a Member of Parliament representing the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) from 2010 to 2015. He was more widely known as the son of W.J.M. Lokubandara, popularly known as ‘Vi Ja Moo’ as he liked to call himself.
Vi Ja Moo was a colourful politician and one of a kind. He used his panache for the vernacular to good effect in his political career. He had a particular style of speaking, much akin to a Buddhist monk delivering a sermon. He didn’t mind playing the maverick; he knew it could win him votes.
Vi Ja Moo spent almost all of his political life in the United National Party (UNP), playing loyal lieutenant to J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe. He held several important portfolios such as Justice and Education. He was the opposition UNP’s choice as Speaker in 2004.
In what is testimony to the political astuteness of Both Vi Ja Moo and Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former veered towards the latter towards the end of that Parliament’s term in 2010. The net result of that was Udith Lokubandara being offered nomination from the UPFA. He contested the 2010 polls and won.
This was not one of those family disputes where the rebel son strikes out on his own. Instead, it was a calculated political decision. The Lokubandaras knew the way was the political winds were blowing- especially after the 2009 war victory. So, they cast aside party loyalty to go with the likely winner.
Udith Lokubandara didn’t cut the kind of maverick, colourful figure his father did as a MP. In fact, it was after he left Parliament- booted out in 2015, along with Mahinda Rajapaksa who lost the Presidency- that we saw more of him, by the side of the Great Leader, as his virtual Aide-de-camp.
We also saw a glimpse of what Mahinda Rajapaksa thought of the younger Lokubandara when, after he had brought the former President in front of a media crew to answer questions about the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr, Rajapaksa pointed to him and blurted out, “moda yakek” or “damn fool”.
Now we hear that Lokubandara is no longer serving Rajapaksa in any capacity and that he has been relieved of his duties. It has been reported that he stands accused of withdrawing funds up to 35 million rupees from Rajapaksa’s bank account using a bank card to which he apparently had access.
Asked about it, Minister Namal Rajapaksa, opened his mouth and put both feet firmly in. “I am not aware of such an incident” he said. It was at the same time that the younger Rajapaksa said his father did not undergo minor surgery- a fact contradicted by the Rajapaksa elder, Chamal, in public.
So much for the credibility of Namal Rajapaksa’s assertions. What is more interesting though is Udith Lokubandara’s response: a deafening silence. He has neither confirmed nor denied anything and has since disappeared from the public eye. Rumour has it that the entire saga is now being hushed up.
There may be a vested interest for both Lokubandara and the Rajapaksas to ‘cover up’ this incident. Nevertheless, this incident raises several pertinent questions that must be looked in to because it was the salary of the then President, paid by public funds, that was being allegedly siphoned off.
The question has been asked whether the salary of the President over ten years amounts to 35 million rupees which works out to about RS. 300,000 per month. A President’s wages also comprises of a basic salary and many allowances for various expenses such as entertainment, fuel, telephones etc.
To accumulate 35 million over ten years, it appears that Rajapaksa saved almost all of his salary and allowances during that time. This raises the question, if much of that money was unused, what funds was the former President using for his daily expenses- and where did that money come from?
The other, less complicated but more obvious question is why Rajapaksa didn’t notice that a sum of 35 million rupees was missing from his account for so many years. How much funds must be at Rajapaksa’s disposal for him not to miss an amount as substantial as that, many want to know.
When this story went viral on social media there were some interesting responses. Some opined that Rajapaksa wouldn’t be aware of the loss because it would have been similar to taking a drop of water away from the ocean. There was hardly any public sympathy for the victim, Premier Rajapaksa.
The responses on social media reflected public perception about the wealth reportedly held by the Rajapaksas and how the public perceived the accumulation of such riches. Though hardly an accurate barometer, it spoke volumes for the standing enjoyed by the Rajapaksas in the current climate.
If, as has been suggested, the matter has been “settled” with Lokubandara agreeing to return the money, we will not have answers to any of the questions raised by this incident. That begs the question as to whether a fraud of such magnitude can be “settled” without intervention from the law.
It does appear as if Lokubandara will get away lightly with a slap on his wrists and a tarnished reputation. Whether this will end his political career is uncertain: those with more chequered histories have graced the legislature of this land because our voters are not known to be that discerning.
This entire sordid story depicts how poorly regulated Sri Lanka’s checks and balances are, with regard to the assets of politicians and how they are managed. This story will have no consequences and will be forgotten when the next scandal breaks. Those are depths to which the country has now fallen.
