Mahinda Failed to Take Action on Panama Papers Pointed out then- Vasudeva

Former Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara said.that Mahinda Rajapaksa knew money was being taken away from the country, as has been revealed by ‘Panama papers’, when he was the President. As a minister of Rajapaksa government,  I informed him about it but Mr. Rajapaksa didn’t take any measures to stop the flow of money away from the country said Vasudeva.

He said this participating in a TV programme . Further he said  that  Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power in 2005. His tenure ended in 2015. The report revealed by Global International Integrity was prepared relevant to this period. It is an international report. I look at all these with suspicion. However, I know more than the amount of money mentioned has been hidden away from the country. For, as a minister it was I who told former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that there was an illicit financial flow from Sri Lanka. I also told him that the benefits due to the country were not coming. I asked him why nothing was done to bring back this money to the country.”

Mahinda told me to ask about it from the Secretary to the Treasury P.B. Jayasundara and the Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivad Cabraal.  When I told them about the issue they told me that ours was not a country ruled with external influence. At present our financial activity is open. As such, there is no financial restriction that could be seen about money being circulated externally or such investments being brought back to the country.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva expressing his views regarding this says, “I will come up with my views directly. Personally, I believe that an investigation should be carried out regarding people who are involved in such issues. At present, many countries have commenced investigations. I expect the Governor of Central Bank would carry out a comprehensive investigation as soon as he comes back from Washington and present a detailed report.”