Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Sri Lanka Former President Rajapaksa Quizzed Over MiG Aircraft Deal
Sri Lankan investigators questioned former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa about an aircraft purchase.
The purchase happened in 2006, when he was a senior official in the Defence Ministry.
Sri Lanka bought four MiG-27 aircraft from Ukraine.
Investigators are examining claims that $7 million was misappropriated.
Rajapaksa gave a statement lasting five hours.
A former Air Force commander was also questioned about the deal.
Rajapaksa’s cousin, Udayanga Weeratunga, was arrested in 2018 in the same case.
Rajapaksa was president from 2019 to 2022.
The report also says his nephew Namal Rajapaksa was recently arrested in a separate airline kickback case.
Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave a five-hour statement to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
The questioning concerns an investigation into alleged financial irregularities in a 2006 MiG aircraft procurement.
Sri Lanka ordered four MiG-27 aircraft from Ukraine, with allegations that $7 million was misappropriated.
Former Air Force Commander Roshan Goonetileke was questioned for more than five hours the previous day.
Rajapaksa’s cousin Udayanga Weeratunga was arrested in 2018 in connection with the same case.
- Who
- Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Air Force Commander Roshan Goonetileke, and other people linked to the procurement investigation.
- What
- Rajapaksa was questioned about alleged financial irregularities surrounding the purchase of MiG-27 aircraft.
- When
- The statement was recorded on Friday, September 11; the aircraft deal occurred in 2006.
- Where
- At the Financial Crimes Investigation Division in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- Investigators are examining allegations that $7 million was misappropriated in the aircraft transaction.
- Aircraft purchased
- Four MiG-27 aircraft
- Supplier country
- Ukraine
- Procurement year
- 2006
- Alleged amount misappropriated
- USD 7 million
- Rajapaksa’s statement
- Five hours
- Related arrest
- Udayanga Weeratunga was arrested in 2018
- Former presidency
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa was president from late 2019 to 2022