The mystery over the ‘development’ trust that former UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox set up to channel funds to Sri Lanka deepened this weekend when the Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal claimed Friday the trust “did not materialize.”
Mr. Cabraal’s claims are contradicted by the results of investigations by several leading UK newspapers.
The 'Sri Lanka Development Trust' is reported to have funded at least three of Dr. Fox’s visits to Colombo, reports said.
And Lord Bell, a friend of Dr. Fox for 30 years, says that Dr. Fox – whilst Defence Secretary – had discussions last summer with the Sri Lankan government, including Mr. Cabraal, on operationalizing the trust.
Lord Bell's public relations firm, Bell Pottinger, was was employed by the Sri Lankan government until last year to improve the country's reputation abroad.
See Mr. Cabraal’s claims in the state-owned Sunday Observer here.
See Lord Bell’s comments to the Financial Times and The Guardian.
See also reports on the Sri Lanka Development Trust by The Times, the Daily Mail, Sky News, Channel 4.
See also our earlier posts:
Sri lanka a raw nerve for Fox (Oct 15)
