Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told court he could not recall details of the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr or whether anyone had contacted him about the incident while he was Defence Secretary.

Rajapaksa testified on Tuesday from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court via Zoom in a case before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court concerning the disappearance of social activists Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan in December 2011. Relatives of the two men filed the complaint, and Rajapaksa was named as a witness.

Asked whether he had received a call from Lalith Alahakoon following Noyahr’s abduction, Rajapaksa said: “I don’t remember that, Your Honour.” He said the incidents had occurred about 15 years ago and he had not reviewed the details before giving evidence.

He also said he did not know that several members of the Army’s Tripoli Camp had been arrested over Noyahr’s abduction. Rajapaksa rejected a suggestion that Noyahr was released because of his intervention, saying he “completely” denied it.

Asked about allegations of abductions and disappearances during his tenure as Defence Secretary, Rajapaksa rejected them as false and politically motivated, saying they had been made to damage the country’s reputation.

The court postponed further recording of evidence until Nov. 27 and ordered Rajapaksa to appear on that date. (Newswire)

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