Activists allege that Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Rohitha Rajapaksa allegedly owned a luxury resort close to the Sinharaja rainforest, which was set on fire during the May 9th violence.
However, speaking exclusively to News 1st Rohitha Rajapaksa said that he owns a partnership property in the area in question, and the hotel was constructed after meeting all the legal requirements.
Rohitha Rajapaksa also said that if any wrongdoing had been committed, a judicial process can be initiated against it.
The Spokesperson for the Sarva-Parshavika Aragalakaruwo movement Nirashan Vithanage told reporters that they requested the Criminal Investigations Department to ascertain the truth about the ownership of the said resort.
Citing a local newspaper he said it was reported that the resort belong to Rohitha Rajapaksa, and questioned how he can own a hotel without no proper means of income.
SJB Bandaragama Organizer Nayanaka Ranwella alleged that the resort massive environmental destruction during construction, and there are concerns as to where the sewage from the hotel goes.
Responding to these baseless and false claims Rohitha Rajapaksa said those making such allegations must be prepared to face the legal action that his faction will be instituting against them.
At the time of the arson, the national newspaper ‘The Morning’ contacted the person who claimed to be the owner of the hotel at the time.
When contacted by The Morning, Sinharaja Green Eco Lodge Owner Ravindu Soysa claimed that this is just a personal and political issue created by the villagers and people involved in politics.
When questioned about his relationship with the Rajapaksa family, he declined to comment, saying that it is his personal matter and not the business of The Morning. He added that the developments in Gongala have no relation to the Sinharaja Green Eco Lodge and that they have other access ways to go to the place.
When contacted by The Morning, Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Lieutenant Commander Yoshitha Rajapaksa said that he has no connection with the Sinharaja Green Eco Lodge, adding that this case was brought by an environmentalist, one year ago, and that he had also sent a letter of demand against the same person last year, through his lawyers.
“Since this issue was not publicly raised after that, I did not take any action. I have no lands at Sinharaja and neither does the said lodge belong to me. I have no personal connection with the owner of the Sinharaja Green Eco Lodge Ravindu Soysa.”
He also said that he was dragged into this due to his political background.