Minister of Public Security Vijitha Herath announced that the Inland Revenue Department will intensify its investigation into the names of Sri Lankans implicated in the Pandora Papers, which allege that numerous individuals amassed billions of dollars in assets through illegal means. Herath stated that the government is committed to conducting thorough investigations into the matters highlighted in the Pandora Papers, targeting both citizens and politicians accused of financial misconduct.
Commissioner General of the Inland Revenue Department, Mrs. Sepalika Chandrasekara, confirmed that a special inquiry has been launched regarding the Sri Lankan companies and individuals identified in the Pandora Papers as tax evaders. She emphasized that the investigation is currently in the research phase.
The Pandora Papers, revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), exposed a staggering 11.9 million financial records related to tax evasion and fraud. Among those involved, names of Sri Lankans have surfaced, linking them to significant financial improprieties.
The ICIJ disclosed the findings on October 3, 2021, after a collaborative effort by 600 journalists from 117 countries. Following this revelation, a senior official from the ICIJ announced that the Inland Revenue Department was tasked with investigating the Sri Lankans mentioned in the documents. The department indicated that it would scrutinize tax records associated with these individuals to determine if any tax evasion occurred. If the courts require related reports, the local income tax department is obligated to provide them.
