By Roy Denish.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa MiG deal scrutiny intensifies as the former president and ex-Air Force chief face questioning by financial investigators.
COLOMBO – The Gotabaya Rajapaksa MiG deal returned to the spotlight on Thursday as the former Sri Lankan President appeared before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to give a statement on the controversial military procurement.
Rajapaksa, accompanied by legal counsel, was summoned over allegations linked to the acquisition of MiG fighter jets during his tenure as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Former Air Force Commander Marshal Roshan Gunathilaka was also questioned by financial crimes investigators for more than five hours.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa MiG Deal Faces Renewed Scrutiny
The MiG transaction has remained at the centre of allegations involving financial irregularities, a lack of transparency, and the circumvention of proper procurement procedures in defence acquisitions.
For years, transactions involving senior officials often escaped sustained judicial scrutiny amid concerns over executive immunity and the political influence of powerful ruling figures.
Rajapaksa’s political journey has been dramatic. He rose from defence secretary, praised by supporters for his role in ending Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war, to executive president. His presidency then collapsed during the historic Aragalaya public uprising in 2022.
That upheaval followed an unprecedented economic crisis, severe foreign exchange shortages, and nationwide anger over corruption, governance failures, and perceived impunity.
While shortages of fuel, food, and medicine initially triggered the 2022 protests, the movement soon became a broader rejection of a political culture in which powerful officials and political dynasties were widely perceived as operating beyond effective institutional checks.
Accountability Now Under the Spotlight
The key challenge for Sri Lanka’s judicial and investigative institutions is whether high-profile inquiries such as the Gotabaya Rajapaksa MiG deal investigation will produce transparent and conclusive legal outcomes.
For decades, investigations involving influential political figures have often faced delays, allegations of political interference, and deep public scepticism.
The FCID’s questioning of a former head of state and a former military chief now places renewed attention on the government’s commitment to the rule of law. That test now carries national significance.
Observers argue that any credible investigation must move beyond partisan politics and avoid the appearance of selective prosecution.
Ultimately, Rajapaksa’s appearance highlights the continuing tension between an entrenched political establishment accused of enjoying impunity and a public demanding lasting institutional accountability.
