Ravi Says He Knew Nothing About The Apartment: "Had I Known It Was Aloysius, I Wouldn't Have Lived There"
August 02, 2017Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who appeared before the Presidential Commission to inquire into the Treasury Bonds issue, said today he knew nothing about the super-luxury 'Penthouse' apartment he lived in.
"I didn't know anything about the apartment. My family rented it," the Minister said, in his statement before the Commission today.
"Had I known it was funded by Aloysius, I would not have lived in it," Karunanayake also added.
The Minister said his family reimbursed Rs.12.5 million to the front of the Perpetual Treasuries Limited which rented the house from Anika Wijesuriya.
"Anika wanted to rent it out to her ex-boyfriend Arjun Aloysious, who is a friend of my daughter," he said.
When asked by the Commission how he paid back the money, the Foreign Minister said, "I am not a beggar on the street."
He said he did not have any business dealing with Aloysius, but admitted that both Aloysius and his father-in-law, former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran were family friends.
It was revealed before the Commission earlier that Karunanayake and his family leased out a 'Penthouse' at Monarch Residencies for eight months with the monthly lease rental Rs.1.45 million being paid by Arjun Aloysius.
The revelation was made by Anika Wijesuriya, the daughter of businessman Nahil Wijesuriya, who originally owned the apartment.
She said Ravi Karunanayake's wife, Mela Karunanayake negotiated the arrangement.
