Govt. explains delay in submitting Pandora Papers investigation report

The Government says the delay in submitting the investigation report on the allegations contained in the Pandora Papers is due to  jailed former MP Ranjan Ramanayake wanting to submit an affidavit  in relation to the case.

Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando said that Ramanayake had wanted to submit an affidavit in relation to the investigation but as his lawyer had contracted COVID-19, it had got delayed.

“He has submitted the affidavit a few days ago after much delay so the report should be out soon,” Fernando said.

He made the comments in response to a question raised by NPP MP Anura Dissanayake who queried the status of the investigation by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption which commenced last  October.

“The President wanted a report within a month but four months later we are still waiting to see what has transpired,” he said.

Former Deputy Minister Nirupam Rajapaksa and her husband Thirumal Nadesan are mentioned in the Pandora Papers with allegations that the duo are economic beneficiaries of an offshore company managed by a Singapore trust firm and own luxury residences in London and Sydney, Australia for questionable sources of  funds.

The expose follows an investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) involving 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in 117 countries.