D.M. Swaminathan evades paying Rs 20 mn owed to Mayurapathy Kovil

Management of the Mayurapathy Sri Bathirakali Amman Kovil has lodged a complaint with the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) demanding an investigation against former Minister of Resettlement, Rehabilitation, Northern Development and Hindu Religious Affairs, D.M. Swaminathan over refusing to repay Rs 20 million he borrowed from the Mayurapathy Sri Bathirakali Amman Kovil, Wellawatta.

D.M. Swaminathan had borrowed the aforementioned sum of money on 10th October 2014 for the construction of Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil, Colombo.

Although he had promised to repay the money he borrowed within a period of ten months, he has failed to do so.

In a letter sent to D.M. Swaminathan dated 20th March 2019, Mayurapathy Sri Bathirakali Amman Kovil President P. Sundaralingam demanded that the former repay the said amount of money by 31st March.

However, despite a number of requests to repay the aforesaid amount, D.M. Swaminathan had failed to do so, according to Kovil President P. Sundaralingam.

Kovil President P. Sundaralingam had again sent a letter to D.M. Swaminathan on 10th April 2019 saying that the Kovil had decided to take legal action for the recovery of the aforementioned amount together with the damages caused due to the non-payment of the money.

In response, lawyer Kapila Manawasinghe Sarathchandra on behalf of D.M. Swaminathan has sent a letter to Kovil President P. Sundaralingam saying that he was instructed by his client (D.M. Swaminathan) to deny all allegations levelled in the letters dated 20th March 2019 and 10th April 2019.

The lawyer, in his letter dated 10th May 2019, emphasized that he denies that his client owes any monies to the Kovil whatsoever.

He added that his client will have to counter sue the Kovil President and/ or the Kovil, if any type of legal action are taken against his client.

Despite the fact that checks given to D.M. Swaminathan are also available, he keeps refusing to repay the money he borrowed.    

Consequently, Kovil management has lodged a complaint with the FCID in this regard.

Allegations have also been levelled against D.M. Swaminathan with regard to a project to construct 50,000 houses in the North with the assistance of India.