The Former president claims otherwise for the money found at Temple trees…

According to the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksha, the cash discovered by demonstrators on July 9, 2022, at the President’s House in Colombo came from his personal coffers and was intended for public distribution.

Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials made this information yesterday known to Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage (08 Feb.).

As a result, President’s Counsel (PC) Harigupta Senadeera asked for the money, which is currently in the court’s possession and amounts to almost Rs. 17.5 million, to be returned to Rajapaksha while speaking on behalf of the former president.

In contrast, the opposing counsel, including President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, vehemently objected to the funds being returned to Rajapaksha in the absence of a formal investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Bribery Acts, adding that Rajapaksha’s statement did not disclose how the funds were obtained.

They therefore asked the court to hold off on disbursing the cash on the grounds that the former President was not present and that it was still unknown how he came into possession of them.