Gota went to Singapore, avoiding the Bribery Commission, amidst accusations of illegally transferring Colombo houses.

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was required for an investigation regarding an accusation of illegally transferring houses located in Colombo to others, did not appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption yesterday (13), and it is reported that he had already left the island. The commission had summoned him to give a statement related to an ongoing investigation.

However, the former president had informed the commission in writing the day before yesterday (12) that he would not be able to appear before the commission on the said date as he was traveling abroad as previously planned, and requested another date for the same. Accordingly, internal sources confirm that the Bribery Commission is currently making arrangements to provide him with a new date to give a statement in the future.

As confirmed by a senior official at Katunayake Airport, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife departed for Singapore around 12:50 PM the day before yesterday (12). It is further heard that this trip was not a sudden one but had been planned beforehand.

This investigation has commenced based on an alleged incident that occurred during the time Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as the Secretary of Defence. He was summoned to obtain a statement regarding an incident where letters were issued recommending the illegal allocation of several houses from a housing complex near Colombo to several individuals.

Meanwhile, former Chief Justice and former Attorney General Mohan Peiris has also been summoned to record a statement regarding the same incident of allocating houses. Accordingly, he has also been officially informed to appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on Monday, the 16th of next month.