Mystery by the Menik Ganga — Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Denial and the Kataragama Property Puzzle

 

There’s a whisper swirling through Kataragama — a story about a grand building by the banks of the Menik Ganga, shrouded by trees and guarded gates. Some say it’s a private retreat. Others insist it’s a state-backed construction gone quiet. But one name keeps surfacing in the gossip circles and online chatter: former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Building Everyone’s Talking About

Kataragama is no ordinary place. It’s sacred ground, a site of worship where pilgrims walk barefoot and whispers of miracles linger in the air. So when locals noticed heavy vehicles entering a restricted area by the Menik Ganga earlier this year, curiosity quickly turned to suspicion. Photos and drone clips began circulating online — showing what looked like a new, well-furnished structure, built where only nature should reign.

Rumours followed. Was this a new government guesthouse? A private rest-house funded with public money? Or, as many posts claimed, a discreet “retreat” connected to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the once-powerful president who vanished from the political stage after 2022’s Aragalaya uprising?

Gotabaya Speaks Out

For a few days, the silence was deafening. Then, breaking it himself, Gotabaya Rajapaksa took to Facebook. In his post, he flatly denied any connection to the property in question.

He wrote that he had no link whatsoever to any building near the Menik Ganga and that he had already given a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as part of the ongoing inquiry.

“I have never wanted to build or maintain a building in Kataragama,” the former president stated, calling the reports false and politically motivated.

A Shrine or a Secret?

Despite the denial, questions keep floating around. Locals say the site has been under quiet construction for months. There are reports of guards and restricted entry, even though the area falls within an environmentally sensitive zone.

Environmental activists have begun asking how the land was acquired and under whose authority the construction took place. Was it temple property, forest land, or privately owned territory? The Forest Department and the Kataragama Devale Trust have both been drawn into the public eye, though neither has made a clear statement yet.

CID Steps In

The CID’s involvement signals that this is more than just idle gossip. Investigators are reportedly examining ownership deeds, permits, and financial records to determine who funded and authorised the construction. There is talk of state land allocations, and whispers of possible misuse of government resources during Rajapaksa’s time in power.

While nothing concrete has yet been revealed, the fact that the former president himself voluntarily gave a statement shows the seriousness of the probe.

The Political Underbelly

The timing is notable. As Sri Lanka’s new administration talks about “clean governance” and accountability, any scandal linked to the Rajapaksa legacy is instant front-page material. Political insiders suggest that certain factions may be reviving old controversies to test the public mood and gauge how much influence the Rajapaksas still hold.

Gotabaya’s public denial is also seen as an attempt to keep his name clean amid mounting scrutiny — especially as other members of his family remain active in politics.

Between Pilgrimage and Power

For now, the “Kataragama building” remains a mystery — part fact, part folklore, and entirely political. The site by the Menik Ganga stands quiet, its gates closed to the curious. But in Sri Lanka’s rumour-rich landscape, silence only breeds more questions.

Is it just another case of mistaken identity, or the remnant of a secret project meant to fade from memory? The CID may eventually provide answers. Until then, the gossip around Kataragama’s mysterious riverside retreat keeps flowing — as steadily as the Menik Ganga itself.