Sri Lanka has denied accusations from the US that it continues to import Iranian crude, in breach of sanctions.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse, brother of the president, said this issue was raised by the US with the government.
President Mahinda Rajapakse said, according to the Sunday Times, that small countries like Sri Lanka were being picked for such accusations.
The Sunday Times said that Rajapaksa directed acting spokesperson Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who is also Minister of Petroleum Resources, to publicly deny the accusations. Mr. Yapa told reporters on Wednesday that no crude oil had been imported from Iran since 2012.
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