• It has disclosed that Ms. Rajapaksa had undisclosed assets worth $ 160Mn

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

The government and the opposition MPs were engaged in a heated argument in Parliament over Pandora papers disclosures yesterday. 

The heated up arguments flared up when SJB MP Thushara Indunil Amarasena dragged the names of high ups in the government together with former Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa whose name had been among the persons disclosed by Pandora papers holding black money.
“One can draw up an equation comprising Ms Nirupama Rajapaksa and the few government high-ups,” the MP said.
“We can draw up an equation bringing Ms Rajapaksa and a few other government high-ups together. Sri Lanka government should follow their Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan. Pandora papers have disclosed that Ms. Rajapaksa had undisclosed assets worth $ 160 million. This comes top around Rs 35 billion and is sufficient to feed their future generations for 200 years,” he said.

State Minister Shehan Semasinghe who responded to Mr. Amarasena questioned about Vidya Amarapala whose name was disclosed by the ‘Panama Papers’ few years ago for corruption. “Do your MPs know who this Vidya Amarapala is? He had financed the election campaign of some SJB MPs,” the State Minister said.

“Mr. Amarasena should not utter things without knowing proper facts,” he added while highlighting how late President J. R. Jayewardene influenced late President D. B. Wijetunga to appoint Chandrika Kumaratunga as the Prime Minister after the 1994 elections.  I heard MP Harsha de Silva advising Mr. Amarasena not to utter as what is disclosed on social media is not accurate.

Dr. de Silva who joined in the crosstalk denied giving advice to MP Amarasena.