Wimal demands probe

Minister Wimal Weerawansa requested the acting IGP and the CID to carry out a probe into an incident where US $100,000 had been transferred to the bank account in the United States belonging to former minister Rishad Bathiudeen during the 52-day government period in 2018.

Addressing a news briefing at the ministry, he said the law enforcement authorities should investigate as to where these funds were credited from and the purpose behind the transaction.

“As far as the information I have received, the funds have been credited from Sri Lanka but I still ask the police to look into it and see whether it was actually from Sri Lanka and who was behind the transaction, the minister said.

“There was a second attempt of crediting another US $100,000 to the same account, which was subsequently stopped by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since they felt suspicious of the transactions,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, he said the CID is currently carrying out an investigation into the incident where they had found some documents from a residence of an individual on January 9, among which there were copies of 227 land deeds and eight original land deeds related to Mr. Bathiudeen.

“There were also documents related to alleged transactions carried out regarding the Sathosa and investigations are currently underway in connection with the incident,” he added. (Sheain Fernandopulle)