The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has received court approval to investigate nine bank accounts linked to Pastor Jerome Fernando, who recently sparked outrage with controversial remarks made during a sermon. Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage granted the order on Tuesday (18 July) following a motion filed by the CID.
The investigation will encompass multiple banks, including People’s Bank, Sampath Bank, HNB, DFCC, HSBC, NDB, and Seylan Bank, where the accounts associated with the self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ were opened. The probe will cover both Fernando’s personal accounts and those belonging to his private firm, church, and wife, Melanie Dianne Vancuylenberg.
Fernando’s sermon, which involved derogatory statements about Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam, sparked widespread controversy, leading to the CID launching an inquiry into the matter on 15 May, as directed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Despite the CID’s request for an overseas travel ban against Fernando on 16 May, the pastor had already departed for Singapore on 14 May and has yet to return to the country. The ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the financial activities and potential implications surrounding the controversial religious figure.
