Money Laundering - Sri Lankans Using Seychelles as Residential Address Have Opened Swiss Bank Accounts Alleges UNP Parliamentarian Dr.Harsha de Silva.
11 July 2014, 6:20 pm
By
Dharisha Bastians
Sri Lankan deposits in Swiss bank accounts are now being listed under residential addresses in offshore havens like Seychelles, as Switzerland tightens financial regulations in line with European banking standards, United National Party Parliamentarian and Economist Dr. Harsha De Silva revealed yesterday.
According to the UNP Legislator, the most recent report from the Swiss Central Bank reveals that deposits by Sri Lankan citizens amounted to 83 million Swiss Francs in 2013, down from 87 million in 2010. De Silva said that in 2013, 65 million Swiss francs were in the form of indirect deposits.
“After the names of some individuals with Swiss bank accounts were revealed a few years ago by an international journalists’ group, Sri Lankans are now afraid of having their names exposed again. So many of these deposits now have addresses based in the Seychelles,” De Silva charged.
Seychelles, a country with a population of less than 100,000 people was gaining notoriety in the world as a major offshore haven and sanctuary for large scale money launderers, the opposition Legislator told a press briefing at Sirikotha yesterday.
Deposits from Seychelles in Swiss bank accounts have increased exponentially from 1.7 billion Swiss francs in 2010 to over 3 billion Swiss francs in 2013.
The Sri Lankan Government has been strengthening ties with the South East African island nation, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa undertaking a State visit there last month and the country’s largest State bank opening a branch on the island. Sri Lanka’s national carrier SriLankan Airlines also commenced direct flights to Seychelles late last year.
“Isn’t it strange that the Bank of Ceylon recently opened a branch in Seychelles, where only 90,000 people live, where there are barely any Sri Lankans to serve? Wouldn’t a branch have been more useful in a Middle Eastern country where thousands of Sri Lankans live and work?” he remarked.
De Silva said that a recent investigative report in the Economist magazine had revealed Seychelles links with powerful criminal mafias in other parts of the world and companies within companies within companies. “The country that has less than 100,000 people have 140,000 foreign companies. It’s virtually impossible to tell who owns the corporate entities,” the UNP MP explained.
The UNP Legislator explained that the Seychelles Government had recently granted what has been described as the greatest gift to money launderers, by promising refuge to any criminal elements provided they could deposit $ 10 million in a bank on the island.
“Among those who have availed themselves of the opportunity is Tunisian dictator Ben Ali’s son,” De Silva charged. He said that countries like Belarus and Belize were also invested in Seychelles.
It was ironic, the UNP MP said that when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was demanding a list of Indian citizens who hold secret accounts in Switzerland, that the Sri Lankan Central Bank is flatly refusing to investigate the list of Sri Lankans already in the public domain.
Matara-Beliatta rail track most pricey in the world: Harsha
The proposed 27 kilometre railway track connecting Matara to Beliatta in the Hambantota District to be built using a Chinese loan facility will be one of the most expensive in the world at $ 14.7 million per kilometre, the main opposition UNP charged yesterday.
Quoting an estimation made by former State Engineering Corporation General Manager Tudor Wijenayake, UNP MP Harsha De Silva said that the Government cost estimate for the 27km railway track included bridges that had already been built.
“Two of those kilometres were already constructed during President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s administration. So in truth there is only 25 kilometres of track to build,” the UNP Lawmaker charged.
Citing an Iowa University report on cost estimation for railway construction in the US, De Silva said that even in the most mountainous regions, the cost per kilometre of track was $ 5.3 million.
“Are there mountains in Beliatta? Are there rocks and tunnels to cut through in the area?” De Silva charged.
The UNP MP said it was ironic that a railway track that was going to be one of the most expensive in the world is cutting through one of the country’s poorest areas, where farmers were struggling for water to cultivate their farms.
Courtesy:DailyFT
By
Dharisha Bastians
Sri Lankan deposits in Swiss bank accounts are now being listed under residential addresses in offshore havens like Seychelles, as Switzerland tightens financial regulations in line with European banking standards, United National Party Parliamentarian and Economist Dr. Harsha De Silva revealed yesterday.
According to the UNP Legislator, the most recent report from the Swiss Central Bank reveals that deposits by Sri Lankan citizens amounted to 83 million Swiss Francs in 2013, down from 87 million in 2010. De Silva said that in 2013, 65 million Swiss francs were in the form of indirect deposits.
“After the names of some individuals with Swiss bank accounts were revealed a few years ago by an international journalists’ group, Sri Lankans are now afraid of having their names exposed again. So many of these deposits now have addresses based in the Seychelles,” De Silva charged.
Seychelles, a country with a population of less than 100,000 people was gaining notoriety in the world as a major offshore haven and sanctuary for large scale money launderers, the opposition Legislator told a press briefing at Sirikotha yesterday.
Deposits from Seychelles in Swiss bank accounts have increased exponentially from 1.7 billion Swiss francs in 2010 to over 3 billion Swiss francs in 2013.
The Sri Lankan Government has been strengthening ties with the South East African island nation, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa undertaking a State visit there last month and the country’s largest State bank opening a branch on the island. Sri Lanka’s national carrier SriLankan Airlines also commenced direct flights to Seychelles late last year.
“Isn’t it strange that the Bank of Ceylon recently opened a branch in Seychelles, where only 90,000 people live, where there are barely any Sri Lankans to serve? Wouldn’t a branch have been more useful in a Middle Eastern country where thousands of Sri Lankans live and work?” he remarked.
De Silva said that a recent investigative report in the Economist magazine had revealed Seychelles links with powerful criminal mafias in other parts of the world and companies within companies within companies. “The country that has less than 100,000 people have 140,000 foreign companies. It’s virtually impossible to tell who owns the corporate entities,” the UNP MP explained.
The UNP Legislator explained that the Seychelles Government had recently granted what has been described as the greatest gift to money launderers, by promising refuge to any criminal elements provided they could deposit $ 10 million in a bank on the island.
“Among those who have availed themselves of the opportunity is Tunisian dictator Ben Ali’s son,” De Silva charged. He said that countries like Belarus and Belize were also invested in Seychelles.
It was ironic, the UNP MP said that when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was demanding a list of Indian citizens who hold secret accounts in Switzerland, that the Sri Lankan Central Bank is flatly refusing to investigate the list of Sri Lankans already in the public domain.
Matara-Beliatta rail track most pricey in the world: Harsha
The proposed 27 kilometre railway track connecting Matara to Beliatta in the Hambantota District to be built using a Chinese loan facility will be one of the most expensive in the world at $ 14.7 million per kilometre, the main opposition UNP charged yesterday.
Quoting an estimation made by former State Engineering Corporation General Manager Tudor Wijenayake, UNP MP Harsha De Silva said that the Government cost estimate for the 27km railway track included bridges that had already been built.
“Two of those kilometres were already constructed during President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s administration. So in truth there is only 25 kilometres of track to build,” the UNP Lawmaker charged.
Citing an Iowa University report on cost estimation for railway construction in the US, De Silva said that even in the most mountainous regions, the cost per kilometre of track was $ 5.3 million.
“Are there mountains in Beliatta? Are there rocks and tunnels to cut through in the area?” De Silva charged.
The UNP MP said it was ironic that a railway track that was going to be one of the most expensive in the world is cutting through one of the country’s poorest areas, where farmers were struggling for water to cultivate their farms.
Courtesy:DailyFT
DIRTY MONEY DIRTY BASTARDO:
ReplyDeleteMichel crooked government is an activite palyer,facilitator is the illegal money laundering and has allow and help his Sir Lan^kan dictator-brother RAJAPAKSE to establish a network right here on our soil to perpetraute his illicit activities.Sri LanKan Bank in Victoria does not only serve as washing machine for RAJAPAKESE and family members money laundering but it is surely used by PP crooks to wash their own stolen and money generated by criminal activities a such as on Hard Drug etc.....
DeleteWhere is Seychelles so call FUI?Not a word of Michel/RAJAPAKSE illicit activities on our soil?What about one of our Outter Island illegal sold to RAJAPAKSE in 2012'?No words for Govinden,assembly,RAM on those illicit allegation?When would partilepepe stop tarnishing Seychelles image abroad with its criminal activities?
Jeanne D'Arc
+40 0000 companies registered in Seychelles-----We need an explaination aprtilepep on those dubious activities partielepep has undertaken.How long would partielepep criminals continue to abuse and use National instituions to perpetuate and cover its illegal activities?How longer can Seychellois tolerate that a gang of old crooks continue to robbed them,enslave them and abuse their instutitons as cover by partilepep hardcore criminals?
DeleteLong live the Independence Flag of Seychelles.
ReplyDeleteCeylon Bank opened its door in Seychelles overnight without going through licensing authority scrutiny therefore the conditions for granting Ceylon Bank a license to operate is Seychelles do not exist ,and it is questionable if the bank even acoording to Seychelles National laws and regulations.defining its business activities,publication of annual report,registered is YES as a commercial bank or else ,What amount does the Bank pays annually to state ? How much Seychellois National it employ etc..etc.. Lots of question partilepep gang of criminals need to answer to both Seychellois,Sir LanKan people and Intenrational community.And DR LAPORTE,FUI how come that so much foreign companies are registered in Seychelles and no money ais collected from them?Maybe they pay brivbes directly into PP's coffers not that of the States.When would justice investigate those illicit deals by PP?What about our outter island sold to RAJAPAKSE in 2016 Michel/Glenny Savy?Why no challenge by Assrembly,RAM,FUI,of the government on those criminal activities being conducted by Paritlepep?YOu all benfit from these illicit deals ?Tell us RAm,why are you silent?
ReplyDeleteAnd of course all those foreign companies registered under total secrecy in Seychelles enjoy tax exemple.
ReplyDeletePArtilepep has put in palce the regulations to encourage and facilitate money laundering.Thoese regulations can be called lawnessless.
ReplyDeleteHere are the conditions for a foriegner to open a company in Seychelles.
-Seychelles IBCs foundations and trusts are NOT TAXED in Seychelles and there are no requirements to prepare,audit,or file accounting statements.
-A Seychelles^IBC can be formed in A DAY.
-What kinds of companies can be opened?--IBC --a company that is quick,cheap to from and administer.Can only do business in other juridictions But NOT in Seychelles.NO tax to pay and no filing of anhnual returns or account.
_CSL--Based on Domestic company legislation,but intended for International business.
PCC---Another company based of Domestic company legislation.It provides for the creation of CELLS,to clearly separate and keep separate the Assets of different and genrally unrelated parities,but under the same legal structure.
What are the requirememnts for company formation?CAPITAL REQUIREMEMNT:For Seychelles IBC it is ONe UNIT of any Intenrational currency--but not less than the equivalent of one dollar.CAPITAL does not have to be paid up immediately.It could be paid up much later when the company needs capital injection.
-IBC fee all inclusive U$350.
GENRAL TAXATION FOR INCORPORATED COMPANIES ARE:. IBC=ZERO,1.5 percent on worldwide income( the alter is something govt can not control).PCC==ZERO,(fund and offshore insurance businesses)unless it is also an CSL(the later rarely is)in which case it would be taxed 1.5 percent only on its worldwide income.
CAN THE REGULATOR AUTHORITY(THAZ SEYCHELLES GOVT)REQUEST ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND THE IDENTITY OF COMPANY OFFICER,OR COMPANY ACCOUNTING INFORAMTION?--no BECUASE THE GOVERNEMNT PRE-MEDITATINGLY DO NOT DO SO FOR THE SYSTEM IS AIMED TO PROVIDE SECRECY THAT ALLOW THE ILLCIT DEALS.iN A MODERN SOCIETY ASKINBG FOR THE AOBVE INFORMATION AS PART OF SCRUTINIZING,CONTROLING AND AVOIDING MONEY LAUNDERING WOULD HAVE BEEN NORMAL----BUT NOT IN AN ILLEGAL SYSTEM OF GOVT.WHOSE OBJECTIVES IS TO GET INVOVLE IN ILLCIT AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES LIKE Seychelles UNFDER PARTIELEPEP.
So as you can see,partilepep has unilaterally implememnt rules that facilitate money laundering.That means partilepep members are active collaborators in these criminal activities as SFP ,USA govt and other International organizations have demonstrated.
Now it is up to Seychellois to act and get those criminals out of power and take back their country from those partilepep crooks who have been tarnishing our country image worldwide.-
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Crimes against Michel and his gang is uncountable.
ReplyDeleteAND ITS FOR THAT REASON MICHEL ARE GIVING OUR CITIZEN TO THOSE MOTHER FUCKERS FOREIGNERS HE AND CO GET THEIR SHARE OF THIS MONEY LAUNDERING THAT GO DIRECT ON THEIR ACCOUNT IN SWITZERLAND AND HE CALL IT FOEREIGN INVSETMENT NO SEYCHELLIOS ITS A MAFIA INVESMENT OF ITS KIND.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear the intention of the jurisdiction is to facilitate money laundering.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about it.
The laws speak loudly of the jurisdictions intentions.
Sir Lanakn Ambassy just opened in Seychelles serve no purpose but one--namely to be used to trnafer illict RAJAPEKSE stoelen money in Diplomatic bags to our shores than Bank them into CEYLON BANK --the later alos opens its door on our shores as aprt of the machine being put in place by paritlepep/Sir Lankan dictator to wash stolen and illcit money via our shores into Swiss Banks.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Seychelles the so call Financial intelligent UNit?What the purpose of FIU?Should Seychellois continue to tolerate that their tax money is used to sponsor crooked organization LIKE FIU,NDEA which are just window dressing organizations which serve no purposes?
BNO HOMELESS in Seychelles according to partilepep--But partilepep is building shelters.Shelters for no homeless--what are then the shelters for paritlepep?Would it be cheaper to transport those persons to their homes if they had one than building shelters partilepep?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is oalthgouh paritlpe built new houses annually ,most houses are built to ccater foreign works force that has become a burden for our society.For our population number No Seychellois should be homeless when consideraing the number of houses built annually .
I meant NO not BNO
ReplyDeleteAfter CEYLON BAnk Partilepep brings in Pakistani HABIBI limited a Bank involve in terrorist sponsoring.It is known to be a bank for Jihadist and teorrists by Pakistani people, together with Pakistan intelligent agency ISI.
ReplyDeleteINDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR MR M.K.NaRAYANAN ,speaking at 43rd MUnich Conference on Security policy in 2007 said*HABIB BANK manipulate Stock exchange to riase funds for terrorists".
The present of Ceylon Bank as HABIB LIMITED is simply a source of finance for partilepep and such banks are uch ready than western Bank such as Barclay to work with partilepep in illcit activites than western banks which have to go through scrutiny,and challenge by Ngos,depedent insotutions etc....
What conditions these banks operate on our soil are unknown as usual--Paritlepep decide for the people without consultation ,debates etc...Time to eleminate those monkeys.
How much does foreign banks contribute to real economy?
ReplyDeleteunless you add foreign exchange,private banks,whose assets are above 50 percent foreign-owed --foreign banks do not necesarily contribute much to loan,private deposit taking and credit growth.
We are not anxious of ofreign banks but it is right to question and address HOw the netry of foreign banks contribute to the domestic banking sector,including its competiveness and the real economy.
Why banks from crooked countires paritlepep?
Why not Swiss bank,Western Euroepan banks,even known African banks but Crooked state banks like Pakistan,Sri lanka soo Afghanistan--to put in palce insitutions to favoured money luanderying paritlepep?
Al HABIB Limited Bank -according to Indai Intelligent service/CIa,scotlandyard is acticely involved in sponsoring jihadists and terrorists.Why import then on our Christian soil apritlepep?