PRECIFAC requests Pushpa Rajapaksa’s flight details

Thursday, 26 May 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shanika Sriyananda

The anti-corruption commission has requested the Department of Immigration and Emigration to furnish the flight details, date of embarkation and the destination of Pushpa Rajapaksa, the wife of the former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and his daughter Thejani, who were continuously absent to give statements over the alleged misuse offlights carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC)summoned the duo twice but they didn’t appear before the Commission.

“The summons were sent on 5 May but they didn’t report to the Commission. Then again we had sent the summons via registered post to the address given at Madamulana residence. The Police officer on duty there had returned the letters to the Weeraketiya Police Station stating that they are not at home,” the PRECIFAC Spokesman said.

He said no one had so far informed the PRECIFAC that they were overseas. “Therefore, we have requested the Department of Immigration and Emigration to inform us about their destination,if they are out of the country,” he said.

The PRECIFAC has previously recorded statements from Minister Rajapaksa and the former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and several other officials over the same allegation.

He said that the Commission would decide the next date to summon Pushpa Rajapaksa and her daughter when the Department of Immigration and Emigration submits the required details to proceed with questioning them.

“If they have gone abroad without informing PRECIFAC, the Commissioners will decide the future cause of action against them,” the Spokesman said.