Money recovered inside President’s House: Bribery Commission to record statement from Gota

• Statement expected to be recorded on July 27

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Bribery Commission has informed Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that it is expecting to record a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on July 27 regarding the recovery of Rs. 17.85 million from the President’s House on July 9th, 2022. 

 
The Bribery Commission had commenced an investigation into this incident pursuant to a complaint lodged by Puravesi Balaya Organisation. Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage had earlier issued notices on Bribery Commission officials to appear in court to inquire whether a sum of Rs. 17.85 million recovered from the President’s House on July, 9th, 2022 would come under the offences relating to the Bribery Act.   

Meanwhile, in his second statement to the CID regarding the investigations into the recovery of Rs. 17.85 million from the President’s House by Aragalaya activists, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stated that money found inside the President’s Office was given by businessmen attached to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and money in question was to be distributed among the people whose houses were destroyed by the protesters.   

However, the former President had told CID that he was not in a position to reveal the names of persons who contributed to the funds since the documents pertaining to the financial records had been misplaced following the occupation of the premises by the Aragalaya activists.   

Meanwhile, the CID submitted to court that the extracts of the investigations are to be sent to the Attorney General to ascertain whether there are offences committed under the Money Laundering Act.