Sri Lankan investigators have located more than $US2 billion ($2.6 billion) that was secretly transferred to accounts in Dubai by figures close to the administration of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government said on Thursday.
“We have information that more than $US10 billion, more than our country’s foreign reserves, is kept outside the country by those closely related to the last government,” he said
Describing the accounts found in Dubai, Mr Senaratne said: “One person from a leading family held $1.064 billion. Another account under a parliament member’s name had over $500 million and a secretary to a very important person had over $500 million jointly with another person, who is very famous for corruption.”
Mr Senaratne did not say who held the accounts, as the probe is still under way. He said it had also identified large withdrawals, including one of $600 million, from accounts belonging to people who had worked with Rajapaksa’s government.
“We have given these details to US and Indian financial intelligence agencies which are helping us in the investigations,” he added. Local media