Mahinda has only submitted an affidavit, stating that it is difficult to calculate assets and liabilities.

Political power, assets, and the shadows of the past often clash as critical periods approach. The long-standing discussion regarding the Rajapaksa family's property has once again reached such a critical juncture.

At the last moment of the fourteen-day period granted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, i.e., yesterday (10), former President Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted an affidavit detailing his assets and liabilities to the Commission. Even mainstream media reported that this statement contained details of assets and liabilities, but it did not. The Commission officially confirmed that it was merely an affidavit stating that he possesses assets too numerous to count and that he would count them and provide the details soon. 

However, there was some uncertainty behind this process. Before submitting the affidavit, the former President had informed the Commission through his lawyers that he needed more additional time to collect accurate data on old properties belonging to the past, as it would take a significant amount of time. However, he did not specify how much additional time was required. It has been indicated that this continuous delay is happening strategically.

This investigation did not emerge suddenly. It is a direct extension of a special inquiry initiated in 2015. The main objective has been to trace the origins of assets held by the former President and his family members and to obtain information about them during the extremely critical political era from 2010 to 2015.

While discussions were ongoing among high-ranking officials of the Commission regarding the course of action to be taken concerning the request for more time, the receipt of the affidavit on the final day is a matter of legal and political curiosity. Whether the submitted documents will meet the Commission's expectations, or if the Commission will have to grant further time for data exploration, remains an open question.

It is now clear that the revelation of the true extent of power and wealth that existed a decade ago will not end merely with the submission of a single legal document.