The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption yesterday recorded a statement from Thirukumar Nadesan embroiled in a controversy over revelation of ill-gotten wealth as per the Pandora Papers. 

The development follows President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordering the Commission to probe into Sri Lankans named in the Pandora papers. 

Nadesan and his wife former Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa were named in the Pandora Papers to have been actual economic beneficiaries of an offshore company managed by a Singapore trust firm and used ill-gotten funds to purchase luxury residences in London and Sydney, Australia. Their unaccounted wealth was put at $ 161 million as per the Pandora Papers.

Their names and dealings were among 12 million documents and files exposed in the Pandora Papers detailing secret offshore affairs of 35 world leaders, including current and former presidents, prime ministers and heads of State. The exposé follows an investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) involving 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in 117 countries.

Nadesan on Wednesday wrote to President Rajapaksa requesting for an independent probe so that his and his wife's name could be cleared of allegations made in Pandora papers. He also claimed he and his wife are innocent and not guilty of any wrong doing.

Marikkar alleges Govt. trying to sweep Pandora Papers under the carpet