Sri Lanka Trending English News - Latest international news headlines, pictures, and video

Court freezes Udayanga’s 16 bank accounts

Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday ordered the freezing of 16 bank accounts maintained by former Sri Lanka Envoy to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga.

The suspect is alleged to have deposited money in the 16 accounts after having accrued it from the controversial MIG aircraft deal. A request to freeze the accounts maintained by the suspect was made to the Fort Magistrate's Court yesterday by the FCID, based on the Money Laundering Act (MLA).

The Court order will be in effect till another order is issued by the Court.

When the case was taken for hearing yesterday, the FCID told Court that the suspect had allegedly deposited a sum of US$ 1.5 million, which he had earned from the MIG aircraft deal, in the said accounts.

The FCID stated that the afore-mentioned details had come to light during their probe into the MIG aircraft scandal.

The FCID further informed the Court that the suspect had deposited money in bank accounts maintained by him at the Commercial Bank, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and on two NRFC accounts.