The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) has summoned veteran artiste Jackson Anthony to obtain a statement over the opening ceremony of the Hambantota Port.  

Anthony was the creative director for the ceremony held in 2010. Questions have been raised on the expenditure of the event as Rs. 15 million had been spent for the dance acts alone. The dance acts were performed by the Channa-Upuli Dance Academy run by popular dancers Channa Wijewardena and Upuli Panibharatha.

Furthermore, it is also said that the event was handled by an advertising and events company allegedly owned by Anthony.

It had also been revealed that the previous government spent a sum as much as Rs. 30 million for the  function ‘Karadiyawara Mangalaya’ to mark the filling of the Hambantota port with sea water, and of this amount Rs. 18 million had been given to the institution called ‘Creative Helanka  PVT LTD of Artiste Jackson Anthony.

Jackson Anthony was known to be an ardent supporter of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

PRECIFAC recorded statements from Channa Wijewardena and Upuli Panibharatha last week. The duo denied that they charged Rs. 15 million for the event and said that only Rs. 6.8 million was paid to them.