Police allowed to probe 'Helping Hambantota' fund set up by the PM

The "Helping Hambantota" fund was set up to help the constituency from which Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa hails.

Acting magistrate Jayanatha Dias Nanayakkara on Thursday allowed the police to investigate three bank accounts of the fund.

The Criminal Investigation Department sought permission from the courts to investigate the accounts alleging that there was a breach of trust concerning nearly 83 million Sri Lankan rupees (approx 820,000 US dollars).

Sri Lankan media had alleged that money sent by international donors to the Prime Minister's national relief fund was credited to the privately run "Helping Hambantota" fund.

Rajapaksa told the parliament that the cabinet was aware of the existence of the private fund.