Chairman of the Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council, Sean Van Dort, has alleged that corrupt border protection officials own luxury mansions in Australia and other countries, funded by illicitly laundered money. Speaking at the Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference, he claimed to have substantial evidence of these illegal activities.
Van Dort highlighted that corruption within key border entities costs Sri Lanka as much as two-thirds of its potential border tax revenue. During a panel discussion, he directly asked Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe questions, expressing concerns about the loss of U.S. dollars through these corrupt practices.
“We are well aware, and it’s almost no secret, that a significant portion of money meant for government coffers is instead lining the pockets of corrupt officials,” Van Dort said.
Responding to the allegations, Dr. Weerasinghe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its zero-tolerance policy on corruption. He assured that authorities would take swift action if credible evidence is provided.
“If there is information, the responsible government authorities will act swiftly, especially under the new government’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption. There are mechanisms in place, like the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), to combat money laundering. However, without concrete evidence, action cannot be taken,” Dr. Weerasinghe stated.
