Investigations have found Rs. 12.2 billion worth of transactions related to bank accounts held by Sri Lankan Pastor Jerome Fernando, the Supreme Court was informed today.

According to reports, representing the Attorney General, Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana informed the court that the transactions were found following the examination of 11 bank accounts held by the controversial pastor.

Stating that investigations are continuing into the said bank accounts, Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana said the investigations are being conducted under the Prevention Of Money Laundering Act.

Pastor Jerome Fernando is wanted by the Sri Lanka Police after allegedly having made derogatory statements pertaining to Lord Buddha, Islam, and Hinduism in front of a packed congregation in May.

Video footage of his remarks had caused an uproar among the followers of Buddhism in the country. Following the uproar, Pastor Jerome Fernando issued multiple apologies regarding his controversial statement. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) obtained a travel ban against Pastor Jerome Fernando from the Fort Magistrate’s Court in May, but it was revealed that the pastor had left the country by that time.

Pastor Jerome Fernando also filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition requesting the court to issue an order preventing his arrest by the CID. He is yet to return to Sri Lanka.