Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has publicly denied any ownership or connection to a building near the Manik Ganga in Kataragama, following renewed media reports linking him to the property.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Rajapaksa said the reports were false and clarified that the property in question did not belong to him. He added that similar allegations had surfaced previously and were already investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
According to Rajapaksa, the CID inquiry was prompted by an electricity connection application submitted under the name “G. Rajapaksa.” However, he noted that the document did not contain a valid signature — only an unclear scribble in the space provided.
“As this false report continues to resurface, I wish to clearly state for public awareness that the building near the Manik Ganga in Kataragama is not my property,” Rajapaksa emphasized, adding that he has never had any reason or interest in constructing or maintaining any building in the Kataragama area.
Meanwhile, the disputed property, located within the Kataragama–Manik Ganga reserve, has now been officially handed over to the Department of Irrigation. Director General A. Gunasekara confirmed that the handover was completed under the guidance of the Attorney General’s Department following a legal review.
