Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed Minister Mangala Samaraweera for his claim that he had deposited US$18 billion dollars in offshore bank accounts.

This allegation was made by Minster Mangala Samaraweera during a media conference at UNP headquarters on Thursday.

Releasing a statement, Rajapaksa said that members of his family have no secret offshore accounts or illegal overseas investments in front companies.

Rajapaksa said Foreign Minister Samaraweera who made the statement had covered himself by saying he did not know whether this information was right or wrong.

Samaraweera claimed that foreign intelligence agencies had informed the government that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members had deposited US$18 billion in secret offshore accounts.