The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), which was appointed to investigate irregularities in the Edirisinghe Trust Investments (ETI), has revealed that ETI properties had been sold illegally.The PCoI said that money has also been laundered during the sale of the properties.

The commission has indicated that the government can seize the property and take legal action against the Edirisinghe family under the criminal law.

This PCoI was appointed in January 2020 by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to find out if irregularities had taken place when selling properties owned by the ETI group, with the intervention of the Central Bank, to pay back the depositors.

The Commission was headed by former Supreme Court Judge K.T. Chithrasiri and included former Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath and senior banker D.M. Gunasekara.

Meanwhile, this commission has also been entrusted to find out whether the sale of Swarnavahini media network to several companies including Ben Holdings is against the law.

The President has given instructions to relevant departments to take necessary actions regarding the commission’s recommendations.