Basil Rajapaksa

Hon.
Basil Rohana Rajapaksa
MP
Minister of Economic Development
In office
23 April 2010 – 8 January 2015
Personal details
Born 1951 (age 66–67)
Sri Lanka
Citizenship Sri Lankan and American (dual)
Nationality Sri Lankan/American
Political party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
Other political
affiliations		 Sri Lanka Freedom Party United National Party
Spouse(s) Pushpa Rajapaksa
Children Thejani, Bimalka, Asanka
Alma mater Isipathana College , Ananda College
Website His Website

Basil Rohana Rajapaksa (known as Basil) (born c. 1951) is a Sri Lankan politician and was a member of parliament from 2007 to 2015 . During the period of 2005–2010 he served as a presidential senior advisor for then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and in 2008 he was appointed as a member of parliament from the national list. He was the Cabinet minister for Economic Development[1] in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term (2010–2015). In the 2010 parliamentary election he was elected from Gampaha district by obtaining the highest number of preferential votes in Sri Lanka.

He hails from a well known political family in South of Sri Lanka. His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, was a prominent politician, independence agitator, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land in Wijeyananda Dahanayake's government. He is a younger brother of the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and another brother, Gothabaya Rajapaksa, who was a powerful defense secretary in the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. Furthermore, his older brother Chamal Rajapaksa served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. during 2010–2015 period He had his secondary education at Isipathana College and Ananda College Colombo.

Political career

At the 1977 General Elections, he contested Mulkirigala Electorate from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party but was defeated.[2] He was the youngest SLFP candidate that contested in this election. In the 1977 election only 8 members managed to win from the SLFP. Basil Rajapaksa later worked with the first executive President J.R. Jayewardene and joined the United National Party,[3] He made this decision to join the UNP due to some infighting within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Although he was with JR Jayawardana, he openly supported his brother Mahinda Rajapakasa. While he was in UNP he became very close to minister Gamini Dissanayake. When SLFP and coalition parties won the 1994 he actively assisted Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. In 1997 his wife won the US green card lottery and migrated to USA with his family. He frequently visited Sri Lanka specially when ever there were elections.

During the 2005 Presidential election campaign he actively worked for his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa victory and became an advisor for the President. In 2007 he was appointed as a national list member for the Sri Lankan parliament. When the 2010 parliamentary election was announced Basil contested the Gampaha district. As the district leader he gained over 400,000 votes and became the member of the Parliament who obtained the highest number of preferential votes. He received more votes than some parties such as JVP.

Family

He is married to Pushpa Rajapaksa and has three children, Thejani, Bimalka, and Ashantha.

Corruption Allegations

Basil Rajapaksa is accused[4] in many corruption scandals and is under investigation for corruption and abuse of state assets.[5]

In 2016, the court ordered authorities to auction a luxury villa and the 16-acre land in Malwana, which is allegedly owned by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa.[6]. So far this was not auctioned and a court case is still going on this allegation. [7]

One of the accusations which the current government made was the misappropriating monies belonging to the Divi Neguma Development Department. Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) a Police division which was established to punish the supporters of the previous government filed the case against Basil on this charges. There are several court cases where some citizens of Sri Lanka had challenge the legality of the FCID. [8][9]

However, the minister S. B. Dissanayake who was appointed as the Social Empowerment and Welfare under current regime has stated: "The pipes were purchased according to due tender process, the purchased pipes were duly delivered the pradeshiya sabhas. The pradeshiya sabhas need pipes – for temple functions, funerals, when a minister is visiting – they need pipes for all of this."[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New Cabinet sworn in".
  2. ↑ 1977 Parliamentary Elections Results. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  3. ↑ Can Basil rescue Mahinda’s sinking ship?.
  4. ↑ http://www.hirunews.lk/185515/malwana-land-case-postponed-until-may-7
  5. ↑ "Sri Lanka ex-leader's brother Basil Rajapaksa arrested". BBC News. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "Basil Loses His 240 Million Worth Luxury Villa in Malwana". Colombo Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  7. ↑ http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Court-stops-auction-on-Basil-s-alleged-land-in-Malwana-125826.html
  8. ↑ http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150607/news/fcid-illegal-therefore-whole-process-not-lawful-say-counsel-152058.html
  9. ↑ http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/06/21/question-mark-over-fcid/
  10. ↑ "SB Defends Basil Over Divi Neguma Case". Colombo Telegraph. 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
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