The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) will commence an investigation into a complaint against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa over his visit to the Tirupati Temple in India using a private jet last year.
The investigation is being reportedly launched to ascertain if the Prime Minister had obtained a bribe by accepting the private jet as a gift in violation of the Bribery Act after a complaint had been filed with the CIABOC by journalist Tharindu Uduwagedara on December 31st, 2021, requesting for a probe into the PM's trip.
In a letter dated February 2, 2022, CIABOC Secretary Apsara Caldera has notified Tharindu Uduwagedara that the Commission has decided to launch an investigation into the complaint.
Several photos of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa disembarking from a blue Embraer Legacy 600 business jet at Tirupati International Airport, in line with his private two-day visit to the temple city for a pilgrimage last year went viral on social media.
After backlash from social media users across country, Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Yoshitha Rajapaksa had stated that one of the Premier's close friends had provided the aircraft free of charge for his travel to Tirupati.
