Former MP Namal Rajapaksa spent over two hours today at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), where he provided a statement regarding an ongoing investigation into a financial transaction.

According to the police, Rajapaksa was summoned following a complaint filed by a Malaysian businessman, alleging irregularities in a financial transaction that occurred between 2010 and 2015.

Speaking to the media after leaving the CID, Rajapaksa said he was unaware of the identity of the person who lodged the complaint.

"The political culture in our country is such that when the government changes, politicians from the previous administration are often called in for questioning. Today, I had a meeting scheduled in Kandy. However, I believe it's important to support these investigations because this is the best way that we can prove the accusations against us are clearly false," he said.

Rajapaksa added that the complaint appeared to be anonymous, involving a person who had claimed that he came to his office sometime between 2010 and 2015, gave money, and then left.

"I have answered thousands of such complaints, even during the Good-Governance Government. I have been remanded, faced court cases and have been acquitted. We are now asking the government to similarly investigate allegations against Rajapaksas like money in Seychelles, Uganda."

Referring to past experiences, Rajapaksa remarked, “I urge the Government not to use this process to suppress the real issues affecting the people."

Black Cap Movement, an organisation linked to the Galle Face Aragalaya says SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa should not be given any Ministerial position in an All-party government to be formed.

The organisation pointed out that one aim of the Aragalaya was to do away with family nepotism in Sri Lankan politics and the forming of a government without any Rajapaksa elements being involved in it. “The people did not ask for the same Rajapaksa SLPP government in new garb,” a statement issued by the organisation said.

The organisation also said there are reports of the younger Rajapaksa being appointed as the National Organiser of the SLPP. “If they act in such an insensitive manner to the sentiments of the people, the people will decide on the political future of the Rajapaksas,” it said.

It has been revealed that SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has written to the Minister of Environment Naseer Ahamed recommending at least two persons for the post of CEO of GSMB Technical Services (Pvt) Ltd that comes under the purview of the Ministry.

Accordingly, the names proposed by the MP have been revealed as M.H.D.P. Karunaratne and G.G.M. Ishara Hemantha. Hemantha is a Pradeshiya Sabha member and a former Private Secretary of MP D.V Chanaka.

Following the request made on 6 August by Rajapaksa, M.H.D.P. Karunaratne had been appointed on 10 August as the CEO of GSMB Technical Services (Pvt) Ltd with effect from 11 August on the instructions of Minister Naseer Ahamed.

After these revelations, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has now appointed a committee that will have to be consulted for prior approval when appointing or changing Chairmen, Director for Public Corporations, and Statutory Boards.

This committee will be chaired by Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake and will include Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, and Secretary to the Cabinet W. M. D. J. Fernando.

Sinhala language newspaper Mawbima in a report has claimed that Commonwealth Bronze Medalist, Wrestler Nethmi Ahinsa had been forcefully taken to meet former Minister Namal Rajapaksa without any prior knowledge of such a visit.

According to the report, the Ministry of Sport had organised a felicitation program for Ahinsa at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. A Pradeshiya Sabha politician linked to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna from Ahinsa’s area had offered to provide transport to Ahinsa and her coach to the event in Colombo.

The newspaper claims on the secret instructions of the politician the driver had informed Ahinsa and the coach that he had been asked to take them to meet the Minister of Sports before heading to the event. However, instead of taking her to visit the current Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, according to a plan hatched, they were taken to meet former Minister Namal Rajapaksa instead.

Photographs were taken with the medalist and shared on social media drawing the ire of the public who criticized both Ahinsa and her coach for the visit. The report said both finally making it to the event had related their experience to officials and those gathered at the event location.

However posting on Social Media, Rajapaksa has since denied the claims and said the news report is a fabrication.