Denying that Rs. 250 million has been given by the government for Mihin Air, the document released by Mr. Siyambalapitiya detailed a confusing number of stipulations to prove that there were no irregularities in this transaction.

“That money has been given under expenditure head No. 240 of the National Budget Department’s Budget Supplementary Services and Emergency Responsibilities Project.

This was approved by the then Ports and Aviation Minister and presented to Cabinet. The overall amount is Rs. 500 million out of which half has already been given. A copy of this decision has already been sent to the Auditor General. A completed estimate was also presented to parliament before this was passed,” the document said.

The document also mentioned that the Peace Secretariat had been given Rs. 3.15 million to pay taxes for high quality communications equipment brought on January 20 2004. On the 12th of the following month, Rs. 13.02 million had been paid to the LTTE Peace Secretariat as taxes for 6 double cabs.

Another Rs. 60 million had been allocated, including Rs. 15 million for four projects planned by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).

The document questioned as to why the 2002 Treasury Budget Supplementary Services and Emergency Responsibilities Fund had released Rs. 22,209 million and a further Rs. 65,067 million without parliamentary approval. These monies, the document alleged were used for the above transactions to aid the LTTE.

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