Agreements!

Saman seemed to be playing some kind of game where he agrees to something then changes his mind, I think in order to prolong events! And hopefully run me out of money!,

. On one occasion whilst I was trying to resolve the problem the Sri Lankan way by agreement I had to get the land surveyed in order to revert to the original agreement and share the land 60 - 40. Saman and his family were living in the house and resented the survey being done, the surveyor explained that he was legally bound to do the work and if necessary would do the job with a police escort, the work went ahead. I could not really face going into the house because of what I imagined had been done to my belongings so waited outside and sometimes ventured into the cinnamon to check on progress, Saman came to speak to me and said he needed to stay at the house for a few more months as he was selling his other house, (he was trying to delay proceedings as that in turn would invalidate my case if the delay was for more than 12 months) I explained that I needed my furniture and electrical items to sell. At that time I had been told I could get these items as I was in possession of the receipts and they were in my name, Saman replied that I could have the items but he would require 50% of the money raised, I later went to the police in order to arrange an escort whilst my belongings were collected and Saman arrived with his lawyer who told the Officer in charge that despite having all the receipts I had in fact gifted the items to Saman and his wife, consequently I was not allowed to recover my own property, I later found out that the CID as well as being in possession of the deeds had also put court orders on everything and nothing could be removed from the house or storage, however even these measures can not actually stop Saman selling items or substituting older furniture for my new,

Whilst we were waiting for the survey to be completed I left for a short while to get refreshments, during this time my wife was threatened by another beach boy friend of Saman’s, it was this “man” who said that “ ???? boys are not afraid of the police or the CID”

It is ironic that if Saman holds a receipt in his name for an item I purchased that is later in dispute then the receipt is adequate for Saman to keep the item but if I have receipts and they’re in my name then it’s a different story, As I have said in other paragraphs of this blog the law in Sri Lanka is pro local regardless of who is in the right.

Many disputes (mainly between Sri Lankan’s) never make it to court, it is sorted out by the local police and agreement. Once the CID were involved and at their suggestion I tried to reach an agreement with Saman where the property would be sold and the money shared on a percentage basis, we met 3 times and a CID officer was present on two occasions, one being where we did agree. I went to a lawyer and had the necessary agreement written out and fully legal, Saman was even consulted by the lawyer to ascertain his commitment, the legal work was quite expensive and I thought it would be worth it but needless to say Saman and his wife refused to sign the paper, they were trying to delay me from pressing the charges and hoping that I would run out of time to continue,



These are some of the items that have been stolen, receipts are held for all listed items, there are many personal items that I bought with me from UK and other items such as saucepans, cutlery and bedding etc that I can not list or try to recover as I have no “proof” they belong to me, even though one is a photograph of my step grandson. 3 x 6’ teak beds, 6 x teak bedside cupboards, 3 x teak dressing tables, 2 small teak tables, 3 x teak wardrobes, 1 x oval table with 6 chairs all teak, 1 x round table and 4 chairs all teak, 1 glass and teak display cabinet, 4 large teak bedside cupboards, 3 piece suite, 1 glass coffee table, 6 teak chairs, 1 teak wine cabinet, 1 teak TV stand and display cabinet, 2 plastic dining tables, 1 plastic small table and 15 plastic chairs, 6 x ceiling fans, 1 x mixer grinder, 3 x TVs, 1 x fridge/freezer, 1 x cooker, 2 x toasters, 1 x steam iron, 2 x mini bar/fridge, 3 x kettles, 1 x washing machine, 2 x microwave ovens.



There is a Swiss man that I met via our mutual friend “Saman” he likes to listen to very loud music so was looking at buying some secluded house/land, I had more land than I actually needed and the prospect of much needed cash was welcome, so I offered land on the other side of the hill that my house was built on, of course my change of circumstances prevented this and I tried to warn the Swiss man of the dangers of dealing with Saman, there was a language difficulty but the Emails seemed to alert him, he came to Sri Lanka and when I tried to speak to him by phone he passed his phone to Saman, there was somewhat of a party background sound and Saman just took the proverbial, I could do no more than hope the Swiss man “sees the light”

A Swiss woman and her daughter stayed for a fortnight in a bungalow next to the one I was staying in, we obviously talked about various topics and fortunately she was not interested at buying a house or land here, they had a special Sri Lankan friend and his family who was very good (aren’t they all?) and they never gave him or his family money but they did give them gifts, on the 4th day of their stay their “friend” arrived in his brand new three wheeler, a present! OK so it was not really my business, if they were happy with their situation they could get on with it, but it was obvious that they too were unknowingly falling under their friends control, My wife and I had to travel some distance on one day and as we were going by train I thought the Swiss ladies might like to join us, after all the trains here are an experience few tourists get to do, I was quite open about my invitation and their friend was listening, he then said that it was far too dangerous for them to travel by train as there was the possibility of a bomb. Both me and the lady scoffed at this as the “war was over” and there was practically a zero % chance of such an event, besides we are European and can not let such issues limit our actions, The friend then got very irate and said that the Swiss ladies were to go nowhere with us, in fact they could only go out accompanied by him, I was a bit shocked by his attitude and reaction (but should have known better) and the lady was very embarrassed by his outburst, on one of the very rare occasions that the friend was absent she did apologise to me and explained that the friend was worried that I might “take the ladies from him“!!!!

Where the Swiss ladies and I were staying was about 25km from where my land and house had been stolen, the “friend” was later proud to say that he had spoken to Saman and Saman had told him that I had only got married in order to obtain a visa and that I gifted my land and house to them,

The beach boy/ guide network that carry out tourist scams must be very wide with much shared knowledge, as not only does Saman know the Swiss ladies friend (25km) but knows Steve and Kath’s “friend (40km). All 3 are bad people.

Another couple who earlier stayed in the bungalow befriended their tuk tuk driver and used him for all their excursions, the man was very fond of fishing and had managed to bring all his fishing tackle from the UK, of course their driver took him to various locations to fish and expressed a desire to own a set of tackle, the man obliged and the driver should have been happy but as the time came for the couple to leave he asked for all of the equipment, (being a considerate driver he thought it would save them the bother of taking it back), on top of this he asked for their mobile phones as well, after all they could just get new ones when back in the UK, another example of the “you have it, I want it” attitude