Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) says Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies have an opportunity to reveal the truth about Pandora Papers and a thorough and impartial investigation will bolster faith in them.
Transparency International Sri Lanka as an organization that continues to raise awareness of the damaging effects of corruption, once again has drawn the attention of the general public to the serious concerns that were brought to light by the Pandora Papers and revealed to the public earlier this month.
In a media statement issued Monday, the TISL said the Pandora Papers exposé provides clear evidence of how the offshore industry promotes corruption and demonstrates the importance of ensuring the transparency of beneficial ownership of entities. “Particularly on Sri Lanka, the Papers refer to extensive assets held offshore by former Deputy Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Ms. Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband, Mr. Thirukumar Nadesan.
TISL in its initial statement following the revelations, called on the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that independent investigations are carried out expeditiously into the revelations made by the Pandora Papers. Since then, the President has called on the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) to investigate the claims made by Pandora Papers.
TISL has taken several steps since the initial statement, pertaining to the revelations made by the Pandora Papers.
One the 7th of October 2021, TISL filed a complaint with CIABOC, calling for an investigation into the alleged unexplained assets of the former Deputy Minister and her husband who haves been identified as Politically Exposed Persons (PEP). TISL noted that the transactions revealed through this exposé could amount to offences under Section 23A of the Bribery Act, Section 4(1) of the CIABOC Act, and relevant provisions of the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law, and requested the Commission to probe into the Declarations of Assets and Liabilities of Mrs. Nirupama Rajapaksa relating to her tenure as a Member of Parliament. TISL requested CIABOC to investigate whether public funds have been embezzled and laundered to these foreign safe havens.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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