The Colombo International Container Terminals  (CICT) Limited today said it gave Rs. 19.4 million to the Pushpa Rajapaksa foundation was a donation done in good faith. 

Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake last week hit out at the Chinese company saying it had bribed former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa's wife, Pushpa Rajapaksa, through this payment. 

The payment was investigated by the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) three years ago.

“This donation was made long after the project concession agreement for the Colombo South Terminal had been signed and construction work on the terminal had already commenced. This payment is clearly reflected in our audited accounts for the relevant year. We therefore categorically reject the implication that the payment is tantamount to a bribe.”

“This issue had already been brought up in the media and was investigated by the relevant authorities three years ago. However, in the wake of these latest reports, we reiterate and bring to the notice of the media and the general public that CICT made a donation to the said foundation, as part of its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and did not intend it to be, nor believe it to be otherwise.”

“CICT has already provided the required information on this matter to the relevant authorities. The company has no further information to provide on the matter, other than for what has already been provided.”

However, the CICT fell short of saying of there was any paper trail on making the donation. 

"Usually, when a company decides to make a donation perhaps as a CSR initiative there has to be some paper trail. At least there must have been minutes from a board meeting with regard to the payment. It is advisable for the company to produce such documented evidence," a top business source interested in the matter told Asian Mirror.