Pandora Papers probe awaits statement from Ranjan

The final report over the investigation launched by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) into the Pandora Papers will be finalised after a statement which is due by imprisoned former MP Ranjan Ramanayake is given, the Bribery Commission said.

Secretary to the Commission Apsara Caldera told Daily Mirror that investigations are still ongoing and the lawyers of Ranjan Ramanayake had been informed to provide the statement through an affidavit.

Last October, the former MP's lawyer informed the Chairperson of the Bribery Commission that his client is willing to give evidence in connection with Sri Lankans Nirupama Rajapaksa and Thirukumar Nadesan, listed in the controversial Pandora Papers.

On October 6, 2021, the President had instructed the Bribery Commission to conduct an immediate investigation after former Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan had been named in the ‘Pandora Papers’ that was released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) for having various accounts/assets, off-shore. The President directed to submit a report on the probe within a month.

The CIABOC has submitted an interim report to the President on November 8 last year as the investigation has not been completed.

The Commission had summoned Thirukumar Nadesan in November last year to record a statement into the investigations while a statement had also been recorded from Nirupama Rajapaksa as well in December last year, the Secretary said. She said that further investigations into those listed in the Pandora Papers will be carried out based on the statement by the former MP.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)