Media Release : Friday, 18 March 2005

C. Pathamanathan, a Kleptoparasite

Mr. C. Pathmanthan who was the Government Agent for Jaffna sometime ago, is a native of Ariyalai village and is a member of a poor family even though he is a millionaire now. Mr. C. Pathmanathan is alleged to have been involved in a number of questionable deals which enabled him to amass the wealth which makes him a very powerful person within the foreign organizations working in Sri Lanka.

We give below some of the main allegations aimed at Mr. C. Pathmanathan, which require urgent investigation as he is tipped to be considered for a top post in a project handled by the World Bank.

Allegations

1   In the Mannar District when he was working as a District Lands Officer he was involved in an illegal timber business. On investigation his cultivation officer was dismissed and Mr. C. Pathmanathan survived.

2   In Kilinochchi, Hon. V.  Anandasangaree, the Member of the Parliament found out about his alleged involvement in the illegal sale of Government land and C.O house buildings.

3   In Kilinochchi, he was investigated for forwarding bogus travel claims.

4   In Vavuniya, he was found guilty of selling a Government vehicle by the then Governor and he was removed from the GA's post.

5   In Jaffna from 1995-1997 using his position he initiated a number of business ventures under the name of his sister. As the Government Agent, the Project Director of the Rehabilitation Ministry and the Deputy Commissioner of internal trade he handled relief food items and essential food items. He was able to get items in short supply on account of the positions he held. These items were marketed through his sister's son. The business was thriving and he bought 10 lorries and a van in his sister's name. His close contacts spread the story that he was helping the Tamil Tigers, but, he was actually helping himself. Many Jaffna institutions and individuals petitioned the authorities to investigate into these allegations and finally the Brigade Commander Larry Wijeratne caught him red-handed when he tried to send a draft of Rs 9 million to an unknown person in Colombo and also when he tried to dispatch some documents on secret deals to Colombo in a gunny bag in a car to be shipped from Point Pedro. He was taken into custody and was reported to the CID. (Director, CID letter C/649/95/CM of 4.1.96.) Mr. C. Pathmanathan was removed from the post of GA and remanded for 2 months. The case is pending and in the meantime, Mr. C. Pathmanathan's sister's entire family left Sri Lanka.

6   In both cases MR. C. Pathmanathan’s bail surety was the Chief Secretary of the NE Province who worked under MR. C. Pathmanathan when he was the Government Agent in Vavuniya. The Chief Secretary of the NE Province then as the Chairman of an Interview Panel selected Mr. C. Pathmanathan as a Project Officer of a Housing Project funded by the World Bank.

7   One of Mr. C. Pathmanathan's very close associates, Mr. Vickesewaramoorthy who too was remanded along with Mr. C. Pathmanathan for criminal offences, is also employed in the same project office manned by Mr. C. Pathmanathan. The appointment was given by the Chief Secretary, NE Province!

Mr. C. Pathmanathan 's thirst for high offices, his crooked contacts lured by black money held by him are now working day and night to appoint him to a very high post of another massive project to be run by the World Bank.

Late Mr. Emil Savundranayagam was well known for his games. But Mr. C. Pathmanathan exceeds Savundra as he has been running continuously for 15 years with the hares, while hunting with the hounds. He has virtually taken the poor Sri Lankans especially the Tamil people , the Sri Lankan Government, the LTTE and the World Bank for a big ride.

Ranjith Soysa 

Spokesperson

Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR)

Reg No. A 003 07777 M

PO Box 4066

Mulgrave    VIC 3170

Australia