The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division's (FCID) investigation into the controversial MIG deal has now reached its final stages, highly placed Police sources told Asian Mirror.
They further added that the FCID is waiting for the green light from political authorities to arrest former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in connection with the investigation. President Maithripala Sirisena, last year, announced at a public meeting that he should be kept informed, before arresting high-profile figures in the defence establishment.
Rajapaksa has already been questioned by the FCID, a few times, over the alleged misappropriation
Rajapaksa, who functioned at the head of the country's defence apparatus at the time of the incident, found himself at the centre of a controversy over the purchase of four MiG-27 aircraft in 2006 at a cost of US$ 2.462 million each. The FCID received complaints that the procedure followed in relation to the purchase had been questionable.
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on behalf of the government signed an agreement with Ukrinmash (a Ukranian company) for the supply of four MIG-27 aircraft as well as the overhauling of four existing SLAF MiG-27 aircraft.
A court order has already been been issued to get INTERPOL assistance to arrest Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga as part of investigations over the deal.
Weeratunga is a nephew of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
