Gotabaya will return: Bandula

• Cabinet Spokesman says former President not hiding in Singapore 
• Opines unaware of rights group submission to Singapore authorities requesting arrest of former Head of State for alleged war crimes

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is in Singapore legally and is likely to come back, said Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday. 

“Former President Rajapaksa is not hiding in Singapore and visited after obtaining an official visa,” he told journalists at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

Gunawardena stressed that he does not believe interpretations that the former Head of State has sought refuge or hiding as claimed by certain reports. 

The Cabinet Spokesman also said he was not aware that the South Africa-based rights group had submitted a criminal complaint to the Attorney General of Singapore requesting the arrest of former President Rajapaksa for alleged war crimes. 

“The facts pointed out by the journalists had not been discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Monday and as per to my knowledge, the former President was due to return to the country,” held yesterday. 

Noting that he had been informed that the former President Rajapaksa will return to the country, Gunawardena said if there are changes then the former President will be notified by the relevant authorities. 

“On a political front, the Government has not been informed of the travel plans regarding the former President or any specific dates for his return. If necessary authorities will implement the required safety protocols to ensure his safety,” he added.