Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa testified before the Colombo Special High Court today on the 2006 Pittala Junction bombing when the case was taken up by the Colombo Special High Court judge Iranganie Perera.

Rajapaksa described the events on December 1, 2006, and said that he left his official residence at Bauddhaloka Mawatha for the Temple Trees. When the vehicle turned from the Pittala Junction, a large explosion was heard, he said.

The driver and the Personal Security Officer were in front of the vehicle and he was seated behind the PSO, Rajapaksa described, adding that the impact threw him towards the other side of the vehicle.

He added that the doors of the vehicle were locked and his security officials broke the locks to take him out. He could see a bike in his convoy and several other vehicles burning, he added.

When cross examined by the defence, he said that he gave a statement to the CID on the event in 2013.