-By A Special Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -16.Nov.2024, 11.20 pm) It’s a tale as old as Sri Lankan politics itself—power, corruption, and the inevitable family drama. At the center of this latest scandal is a prominent SJB Nationalist MP, commonly referred to as “Bakeer,” and his alleged connection to the largest VAT scam in Sri Lankan history.
This wasn’t your garden-variety financial fraud. The VAT scam between 2002 and 2004 drained trillions of Sri Lankan Rupees from the state coffers. That’s not a typo—trillions. For context, that’s enough money to buy every Sri Lankan a beachfront villa and still have change for a cricket stadium or two.
And now, decades later, whispers still circulate about Bakeer, his family, and whether the SJB Chairman had any role in this colossal heist—or if he’s simply the luckiest man in Sri Lanka to have come out of the mess unscathed.
The story begins with Bakeer’s wife’s family members, who were convicted of VAT fraud after years of investigation. The courts ruled decisively, but questions remain about how the scam operated so smoothly and for so long. After all, this wasn’t a petty cash theft—it was a meticulously orchestrated operation.
At the time, Bakeer was already carving out a name for himself in the political arena. Coincidentally—or perhaps not—he maintained an immaculate distance from the investigation. While his family faced the heat, Bakeer seemed untouchable. Some say it was political maneuvering, others whisper it was sheer genius.
Fast forward to 2005. Sri Lanka was in the throes of a political transition, and Mahinda Rajapaksa was ascending to power. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that Bakeer may have played a quiet but pivotal role in assisting Rajapaksa, potentially in exchange for protecting his family from further investigation.
Whether this is true remains unclear, but the circumstantial evidence raises eyebrows. Could it be that Bakeer brokered a deal to shield himself and his family? And if so, what does that say about his integrity—or his loyalty to the SJB?
This brings us to the present day and the SJB’s current leadership under Sajith Premadasa. The party, now reduced to 40 MPs, can ill afford another scandal. Yet, here they are, with Bakeer’s alleged involvement in the VAT scam threatening to taint their already bruised reputation.
The question is simple: Will Sajith take decisive action to suspend Bakeer from the SJB, pending an investigation? Or will he stick to the tried-and-true tradition of political evasion, hoping that the story fades away under the weight of the next scandal?
One might argue that Sajith has no choice but to act. The IMF has already demanded that Sri Lanka revisit its history of financial corruption as part of its economic restructuring. Ignoring this issue could give the opposition ample ammunition to portray the SJB as complicit in covering up past crimes.
For his part, Bakeer has remained curiously silent on the matter. No grand denials, no fiery press conferences—just the calm assurance of a man who knows the art of staying under the radar. It’s almost admirable, really.
But silence, as they say, can be deafening. It begs the question: If Bakeer has nothing to hide, why not clear the air? Why not address the allegations head-on instead of leaving the public to speculate?
Meanwhile, Sajith’s reluctance to address the issue publicly only adds fuel to the fire. Imagine a party leader campaigning on transparency while turning a blind eye to one of his own MPs potentially having links to the most infamous financial crime in the nation’s history.
Here’s the thing: Sri Lanka deserves answers. The VAT scam wasn’t just a loss for the government—it was a loss for every taxpayer who trusted the system to work. Trillions of rupees vanished into thin air, and the masterminds behind it have never been fully exposed.
An independent investigation into Bakeer’s alleged involvement is not just a matter of party politics—it’s a matter of justice. If he’s innocent, let the evidence prove it. But if there’s even a shred of truth to the allegations, then the SJB must act swiftly to preserve whatever credibility they have left.
The irony here is almost Shakespearean. The SJB frequently positions itself as the moral alternative to the NPP and SLPP, yet it now finds itself entangled in one of the largest scandals of the past two decades.
As the saying goes, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones—or in this case, people who lead political parties with 40 MPs shouldn’t accuse others of mismanagement without cleaning their own house first.
The ball is firmly in Sajith’s court. Will he choose accountability, suspend Bakeer and call for an investigation? Or will he opt for political convenience, hoping that voters forget about the VAT scam as quickly as they forgot about the Greek bond debacle?
Either way, one thing is clear: the longer this drags on, the more damage it does to the SJB. And in a political landscape as volatile as Sri Lanka’s, that’s a risk they simply can’t afford to take.
So, here’s some free advice for Sajith: When your party is already in the doghouse, don’t let sleeping VAT scams lie.
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by (2024-11-16 18:21:48)
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