Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has strongly denied claims that a building constructed near the Menik Ganga in Kataragama belongs to him, calling the reports completely false.

His remarks come as the disputed ‘ownerless’ building is being officially transferred to the Irrigation Department.

In a statement issued today (14 October), Rajapaksa said certain television channels had once again mentioned his name in connection with the disputed property, despite a previous CID investigation having already addressed the matter.

“The CID conducted an investigation regarding the ownership of this building, and I too gave a statement. I was questioned only because an application for an electricity connection had been submitted under the name ‘G. Rajapaksa’. The application did not even contain a proper signature—only an unclear scribble,” he explained.

Rajapaksa added that he was compelled to make this clarification as false reports about the matter keep resurfacing. “For everyone’s understanding, I categorically state that the building near the Menik Ganga does not belong to me. I have never had any reason or interest to construct or maintain any property in the Kataragama area,” he said.