Responding to a statement by Rajapaksa’s spokesperson regarding delays in vacating the former president’s official residence at Wijerama, Fonseka alleged that valuable state property had been unlawfully transferred from the President’s House and Temple Trees to Rajapaksa’s private residence.
Referring to the spokesperson’s claim that the Rajapaksa camp was awaiting the conclusion of an inventory of state assets, Fonseka ridiculed the explanation, saying, “Do you believe that Mahinda Rajapaksa, who spent Rs. 500 million repairing the house, will even bring a coconut scraper purchased with his own money?”
He claimed the Wijerama residence contained many luxury items and imported furniture originally belonging to the state. “If I was the Justice Minister, I would have filed the first case against Rajapaksa for moving these precious items. He can be arrested within 24 hours,” Fonseka said.
Accusing the Rajapaksa family of manipulating the absence of an inventory to delay returning the property, Fonseka said, “If there is no inventory, who lived in those houses? Gotabaya in one, Mahinda in the other. Then they should be held responsible. This is how the Rajapaksas operate,” he remarked, comparing the former president to a “blood-sucking snake.”
Fonseka further alleged that despite numerous corruption allegations and ongoing cases, Rajapaksa continues to exploit the public. “No matter how much this government brags about its anti-corruption drive, if they cannot act against Mahinda Rajapaksa, they cannot claim to have fixed this country,” he said.
Recalling the final days of the war, Fonseka accused Rajapaksa of declaring a ceasefire to allow LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to escape. “Mahinda Rajapaksa must explain why he ordered a ceasefire. In any other country, he would have been hanged for this betrayal. According to our own Constitution, the punishment he deserves is death by hanging,” Fonseka declared.
The Field Marshal also accused the Rajapaksa administration of fostering large-scale corruption networks involving the Ports, Petroleum Corporation, Customs, Inland Revenue Department, and other state institutions.
Commenting on the Rajapaksa family’s treatment of war veterans, Fonseka said, “Prabhakaran never tried to attack our families despite us waging war, but the Rajapaksas are not like that.” He also expressed surprise at Namal Rajapaksa’s recent remarks showing sympathy toward him.
Calling on the government to take action, Fonseka urged, “This government has a duty to launch the highest-level investigation — even a presidential commission — to determine why Mahinda Rajapaksa betrayed the country.”
While acknowledging current anti-corruption efforts, Fonseka added, “I appreciate the government’s stance against corruption and criminals, but there remains much more to be done.”
