Rajapaksa says family facing false allegations

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said his family and himself were facing a barrage false allegations after the presidential elections. Mr Rajapaksa in a statement issued from his residence in Tangalle, said that the allegations were being levelled at his family and himself via the media without following the proper procedures to investigate them. He said the allegations about an alleged coup attempt to stay on in power was false and that he handed over power even before the final results were out. He said it has been projected that he had spent a large sum of money to rennovte the Temple Trees, but in fact it had been renovated in time for the Commonwealth where the guest were hosted for a dinner and an exhibition was held. He said that the claim that his wife Ms Shiranthi Rajapaksa also attempted to fraudulently sell 100 kilos of gold held in the Treasury was not correct. ‘Even the Treasury secretary cannot sell it illegally’, he added. He said that the search for luxury vehicles reportedly held by sons have also turned futile. Mr Rajapaksa also denied that money meant for projects had been swindled adding that strict procedures were followed when contracts were awarded.