The government has gathered information on eight accounts held in foreign banks by members of a VVIP family of the previous regime, Cabinet Spokesman Dr Rajitha Senarathe said yesterday.

He told the media at the weekly cabinet news briefing that in three of the accounts, they had deposited US$ 1.86 billion,US$ 1.8 billion and US$ 500 million.

Senaratne declined to name the individuals who held the accounts, claiming that it would affect the investigations. Names of account holders will be disclosed after the ongoing investigations are over, he added.

He asked media not to give publicity to the investigations as it would hinder the probe into the accounts.