Former Sri Lankan president's son denies mother involved in gold scam

The son of former President Mahinda Rajapakse on Tuesday strongly rejected allegations that his mother was involved in a gold scam and urged the newly elected government to "leave them alone."

Namal Rajapakse, the elder son of the former president and a member of parliament, said his mother and former first lady Shiranthi Rajapakse had not been involved in any crimes and the accusations leveled against her were politically-motivated.

"If political revenge is the main objective, attack my father and myself, and stop making false allegations against my mother and brothers," the former president's son told reporters.

A complaint was lodged with the Bribery and Corruption Commission on Monday against Shiranthi Rajapakse for her alleged involvement in a Rs. 500-million (3.79-million-U.S. dollar) gold scam.

The complaint was lodged by the wife of a former senior police officer, who alleged that her husband was arrested under false charges because he spearheaded an investigation into a conspiracy to sell 100 kg of gold belonging to the Treasury.

"Army Intelligence Unit had informed my husband, when he was in the service, that 100 kg of gold worth Rs. 500 million had been swindled from the Treasury and Shiranthi Rajapaksa was involved in it," Shayamali Perera, wife of a former police deputy inspector general, said outside the commission.

However Namal Rajapakse dismissed such allegations as completely false, saying the whole purpose was to sling mud at his family. Endi