Rajitha claims $1b deposit of Rajapaksa family found

Friday, 15 January 2016 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Rajitha Senaratne (Centre) flanked by Minister of Justice and Buddasasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Minister of Media Gayantha Karunathilaka at the post-Cabinet briefing yesterday

Claims two other accounts of an ex-MP and officials have been uncovered
US assisting in investigations, pledges legal action once probes completed

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Revisiting attempts to regain ill-gained cash by top officials the Government has received secret foreign bank account details of an‘ex-royal family member’ which allegedly holds $1.086 billion, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne revealed yesterday.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet briefing Senaratne claimed he had seen the detailed document of the deposit, but refused to reveal the name of the alleged member.

He also charged the Government has collected information about another two accounts related to an MP and two former Government officials under ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“A former secretary and a Chairman from a Government institution had maintained a joint foreign bank account for the sum of $1.8 billion. Another MP, who is also known as a businessman and a close friend of the former royal family had kept a foreign account for the sum of $500 million,” he alleged.

Minister said that U.S. Federal Reserve, who provided these documents, has asked extra time to supply more details.

“Legal action will be taken against these people after the Government has collected all the information regarding their frauds,” Senaratne said.