Gotabaya denies involvement in illegal construction on State land

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has denied any involvement in a building constructed illegally on a reservation land near the Menik Ganga in Kataragama. The building, which consists of 12 rooms, has been linked to electricity bills under the name ‘G. Rajapaksa’.

Rajapaksa stated that he has no knowledge of the electricity bills or any connection to the building when questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The CID’s investigation into the matter is centred around an illegal construction on Government land. Rajapaksa was questioned on January 17 regarding his connection to the building, during which he reiterated that he had no involvement with the structure.

The building was reportedly constructed before 2010, and investigations have revealed that it was built with the labour of a military group. After the construction, it is claimed that a member of the Sri Lankan Navy, reportedly assigned to the security of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been occupying the building. Yoshitha Rajapaksa was also questioned by the CID on January 3, during which he similarly denied knowledge of the building.

In addition to Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Major Neville Wanniarchchi, a former personal security officer to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was also questioned by the CID on December 27 regarding the matter.

This investigation into the illegal construction dates back to the ‘Yahapalana’ Government, and although it had begun at that time, it was halted when Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed the Presidency. The electricity bills for the building are registered under the name ‘G. Rajapaksa’.

The post Gotabaya denies involvement in illegal construction on State land appeared first on DailyNews.