5 October 2021 08:55 am Views - 402
BY JAMILA HUSAIN
Following the shocking allegation of former parliamentarian Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan being listed in the Pandora Papers for having hidden wealth stashed away in offshore companies, the Daily Mirror learns that this matter has been brought to the attention of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and senior government members who will discuss the issue this week.
According to highly placed political sources, the Rajapaksa family was unaware of these allegations as these claims go back to the early 1990s and although Nirupama is a relative, the ruling family did not have any knowledge on the Nadesan’s business dealings.
The Daily Mirror also learns that it is only after the matter is discussed will a statement perhaps be made but for now no government member was likely to make an immediate statement as the allegations needed to be verified. Several attempts by the Daily Mirror to contact Thirukumar Nadesan for a comment over the allegations failed. Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday questioned the silence maintained by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa over the allegations, asking why a statement had not been made when leaders such as Pakistan Prime Minister had been quick to assure an investigation against his citizens named in the Pandora leaks.
India’s Finance Ministry said it too would investigate the claims against those listed and take appropriate action according to its law. Some countries however have denied any wrongdoing saying they had seen no evidence on the claims.