Former Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa had allegedly transferred houses worth millions built by a government-owned company under the Housing Ministry, for his close relatives and aides. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division of the police, following complaints received have initiated a probe into the case that involves public funds exceeding Rs.60 million, authoritative sources told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
The illegal transfer of houses has been reported by the new chairman and the board of directors of the state-owned Ocean View Development Company (Pvt) Ltd, of which the shareholders were the Housing Development Authority and the Urban Development Authority.
It is alleged that the massive corruption and fraudulent transactions had been carried out by the former directors of the company on the instructions of Wimal Weerawansa as the then minister.
by Manjula Fernando / SO