MR rejects Mangala’s claim about $18 bn abroad

8 May 2015 07:51 am

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected the claim that he had deposited US$18 billion dollars in offshore accounts and said these reports were the devious means by which false propaganda against him was being spread.

This allegation was made by Minster Mangala Samaraweera during a news conference yesterday.

“I like to inform the public once again that I, my wife, my sons or my brothers have no secret offshore accounts or illegal overseas investments in front companies,” Mr. Rajapaksa said in a statement.

He said Foreign Minister Samaraweera who made the statement had covered himself by saying he did not know whether this information was right or wrong.
 
The minister alleged that foreign intelligence agencies had informed the government that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members had deposited US$18 billion in secret offshore accounts.

“There was a time when any large house or hotel being built in Colombo or anywhere else in the country was supposed to belong to the members of my family. Such propaganda cannot be carried out now, so our political opponents have resorted to talking about money stashed overseas,” Mr. Rajapaksa said. (LSP)