Video: MR family deposited 18 bn USD in foreign banks: Mangala

7 May 2015 11:38 am - 39 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The objective of the demand made by some opposition parties to do away with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is something aimed at getting away from frauds, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today.

Mr. Samaraweera made this point with regard to a demand made by the delegation led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa when they met President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday.

The Minister said half of the opposition members who made this demand were those who faced serious corruption charges.

“We will continue to carry out investigations on financial crimes irrespective of what steps that would be taken in the future,” he said.

He said, “I doubt the FCID gazette will be repealed. That is an intrinsic part of the mandate given to us by the people of this country to look into all these allegations of wide-scale corruption which existed during the last regime. The very fact that they want it scrapped shows that they are guilty. Because, with due respect, half of those who accompanied former President Rajapaksa to meet President Sirisena, had very serious allegations against them. It is a race against time to somehow get these investigations stopped. We have total confidence in the President that he will live up to the mandate given to him by the people of this country.”

Meanwhile, he said the government was getting the expertise of four countries in the asset recovery operations.

“For the moment I’d rather not name the countries. According to some of the people we’ve been working with, they feel that the assets that have been siphoned off from this country by the Rajapaksa family at large may amount to some 18 billion US dollars. In fact, we have done a little better than the Libyans and the others because we at least know where 2 billion US dollars lie, but it is not an easy task and we are getting help and support to negotiate and gain access to these funds,” he said. (Yohan Perera and Sanath Desmond)

Video by Sanath Desmond

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Comments - 39

sutan Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:40 PM

mangala hariyata hari maha ekka okkoma horu tika danna kuduwe

Maya Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:15 PM

Whaa.........t?Have I heard it well ? US Dollar 18b.If this is true, how the western anti money laundering Fail to Prevent this.

inoka Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:22 PM

You idiot .You really are a n idiot.You area frog in the well.Why should Basil flee on the 9th morning to America?You too are a part of their robbery.

Nalini Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:25 PM

18bn US4 in 10mn in 10 years, Mahendran and Mahendran $ in few hours.

simon Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:31 PM

Guess not. Running his mouth without thinking !

simon Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:34 PM

correct ! In the meantime our economy is deteriorating. Rupee has taken a nose dive !

J Rajasinghe Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:36 PM

Well said Damien.Under current banking regulations no person could hide such a volume. This lying has to stop and real corruption if happened should be revealed in the context rather than fairytale telling. People will answer at the next election. This government have lost all credibility within hundred days. I also believed these fairytale s and voted against MR. I feel i have made a mistake.

simon Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:36 PM

Guess not. That is why they made him the Foreign affairs minister !

Malin Samarasinghe Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:37 PM

USD18m would have been more believable. When you create a lie, you should have some idea of the total GDP of Sri Lanka.

raj Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:38 PM

exactly same is true for war crimes accusation levelled against Rajapaksas by Tamils and international community and the UN.

Priyankara Perera Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:12 PM

Who is in charge of what in this government? Everyone seems to be treading into others territories. These political morons steal more of SL citizens money probing into others misappropriations in the past. Is this the duties commissioned to a FOREIGN/EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER? If it is then why do other govt officials worried about investigating the same thing? Has anyone heard of Obama investigating Bush? Cameron investigating Milliband?? These leaders are elected to do one thing to take their country forward through all means towards development. Wasting time, energy and money is not what they are tasked to do. Sri Lanka today is stagnated in development. Employment sector is suffering as many projects are slammed with breaks and employees laid off. Key employees are being kept with minimum payments so that quality workers are retained. This drains company funds causing eventual liquidation. Simultaneously, this environment gives bad vibes to foreign tourists and investors.

ramji Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:37 PM

haha.. our gdp itself is just 72.6 billion usd. abd I think it should be 1.8billion usd. just divide 227 via DM Android App

Jayalath Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:43 PM

Mangala may not know how much is 18 billion dollars , for a example ,previous regime spent 350 million dollars to build motor way from Karunayaka to Colombo and port city project is cost 1.6 billion and how come Rajspaksa only steal 18 billion , these people have a secret agreement with west and USA to continue with rallies of fake allegations against previous regime until consolidate a good mandate from the coming election which is perfectly work at this moment , if the rest of people kept silence with it ,probably there will be serious problem in the country very near future . This is entirely USA plan . Very worrying

Aruna Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:45 PM

Getting desperate....coming up with crazy figures without any evidence....

Nakkiran Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:59 PM

bring back all black money .

kotaa Thursday, 07 May 2015 09:16 PM

Sir stop this tomfoolery and figure game. if robbed help the Law to take its course. we have lot of expectations on you. Do the right thing to develop the country NOW please.

gayan Thursday, 07 May 2015 09:20 PM

Like SF said in 2007, this guy should talk only about things he knows like the garment industry.

Desmond Jeromme Friday, 08 May 2015 08:29 AM

Sir, we all know MR

Nande Saturday, 09 May 2015 08:48 AM

Minister. Mangala do something quickly. via DM Android App

Kinoka Monday, 08 May 2017 04:22 PM

You mean Basil fled to a stage at Galle Face Green looked on by 1 million people ? LOL... Joker...

sss Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:19 PM

MR must be feeling betrayed. He kept his the unwritten promise in 2005 never to investigate corruption and violence by the previous administration after an election which has been in effect since independence.

simon Thursday, 07 May 2015 05:16 PM

US$18 billion is quite a chunk of money anyone to hide regardless the locations. Based on what info this amount is being declared. t.

Damien Thursday, 07 May 2015 05:18 PM

Stop coming out with your fabricated stories Mr Minister.Your Government has failed to prove that MR or his family misappropriated a single cent, Your government is very much more corrupt than the previous government with allegation after allegation appearing with only few months in power we can only imagine how corrupt it will be if they can form a proper government.

ANTON Thursday, 07 May 2015 05:32 PM

YOU ALL HAVE BEEN TALKING THESE THINGS FOR 100 DAYS, WHAT ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN ???

Liberal One Thursday, 07 May 2015 05:32 PM

Does he know how much $18 billion mean? Making a fool out of himself.

jay Thursday, 07 May 2015 05:35 PM

i hope is maths are correct

Punchinilame Thursday, 07 May 2015 05:37 PM

It is very evident that the initial steps MR took to meet withMS in the guise of political discussions was to put out a feeler about curbing Fraud Inquiries. His visit to Johnstonshows where MR stands. There cannot be any lame excuses to divert Fraud inquiries for any reason by anyOffice or Official, as the ball has been set rolling.

Hopeless Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:05 PM

Is that so....?Think again minister....

Sikuru7 Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:07 PM

Itis not impossible, Large amounts of money was pumped into Sri Lanka by China and some of them were taken by the Rajapaksas, Money from drugs and bribes can add beyond 18Billion

sobers Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:17 PM

Enough is enough, always making allegations has become irritating. Please prove and punish, who ever they may be.

coconut donkey Thursday, 07 May 2015 05:15 PM

Are you telling me this band of thives have stolen upto 2.376 TRILLION sri lankan rupees from the public while a vast majority of us are struggling to make end meet!?!?!?

ara Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:19 PM

how did u come up with the figure, if he can find this out they should be having some idea where the money is kept, to all the readers, this is called political theater, after the elections the people will wait for justice. however they will then have forgotten as they have achieved their objective of coming to power.

Sri Lankan Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:20 PM

The former minister who is planning to go to courts against the gazette notification on financial frauds should also be probed as to how he had money to build an ultra modern mansion at his home town spending over Rs. 40 million.His wife and son should also be probed for financial frauds under his former mininistry.

Mason Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:22 PM

Under no circumstances should the investigations into corruption and theft by Mahinda Rajapakse, his family and cronies be curtailed or curbed. It must be extended to the logical conclusion.This is not a pet project of the government or SLFP. The public are entitled to know the outcome and the truth.

Gongala Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:27 PM

Where were you Mr Managala all this time? We were waiting for you to come out with a HUGE story like this. But we need proof as well.

Lenny Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:29 PM

Whilst I am all for the new government, I would urge all the new ministers and deputy ministers to stop talking rubbish e.g, " According to some of the people we’ve been working with, they feel that the assets that have been siphoned off from this country by the Rajapaksa family at large may amount to some 18 billion US dollars " There is no "feel" or "I think" if they did it and you have evidence, take them to courts, until you have to keep quiet.

faro Thursday, 07 May 2015 06:39 PM

dont just keep on accuse. its becoming joke. prove charges with evidence pls via DM Android App

frank hilary Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:09 PM

Indirect investments of a fraudster in a foreign land in a gigantic task to unearth. It defenitelyneed forensic skills. Lets give them time for thejob.

Prem Nath Thursday, 07 May 2015 07:10 PM

How has anyone reached this amount of US$18 billion?MR.M.S. is it possible for Any one to do this fanishing trickof such a huge amount without a ripple?Astonishing howenemies make statements.

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Video: MR family deposited 18 bn USD in foreign banks: Mangala

Comments - 39

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