Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday told the Jaffna Magistrate's Court that his statement to the effect that the disappeared activists Lalith and Kugan were under government custody, was given under the instructions of the Ministry of Defence.

Lalith Veeraraj and Kugan Murugananthan, two activists of the Frontline Socialist Party (then known as the People's Struggle Movement), disappeared on the night of December 9, 2011. Several days later, Rambukwella made a statement that they were under government custody.

The then President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also the Defence Minister at the time and his younger brother Gotabhaya was the Secretary to the Ministry.

Rambukwella appeared at the court yesterday to testify on his statement regarding the case pertaining to the disappearances.

The next hearing of the inquiry was fixed for August 12.