Basil before PRECIFAC today

The anti-corruption commission is to grill former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa today. 

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) will question Rajapaksa over the alleged misuse of domestic flights carried out by the Air Force.

Meanwhile, PRECIFAC sources said the Department of Immigration and Emigration had informed the commission that Minister Rajapaksa’s wife and daughter were in the US.

A few weeks ago the PRECIFAC requested the Department to furnish the flight details, date of embarkation and the destination of the two as they were continuously absent from giving statements to the commission over the alleged misuse of flights carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The summons were sent twice to the address given in Madamulana residence but they were returned by the Police officer on duty stating they were abroad.

“Immigration has informed us they are in the US. The commission is not empowered to bring them here, therefore we are waiting till they return to the country to get a statement over this allegation,” the spokesman told the Daily FT.

PRECIFAC had recorded statements from Minister Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and several other officials over the same allegation earlier. (SS)