Former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says he is ready to accept any role under any leader who truly cares for the country

Speaking at an event in Kandy he said that all that mattered to him was the motherland.

“The Taj Hotel near the Galle Face Green is built on land leased to India during J. R. Jayewardene’s time,” he said. “The World Trade Centre is built on the Echelon Square which was land leased to Singapore during Premadasa’s time. Can we just take these lands back after 99-years are done?” he asked.

“The government of Rajapaksa leased land near the Galle Face Green to Shangri La for a good sum. That money was supposed to be used to build the tri-forces headquarters in Battaramulla,” he said. “The present government took that money and put it into the Treasury, now what has happened to that money,” he asked.

“Now the tri-forces headquarters is languishing un-built and no one knows what has become of the money that was set aside for that purpose. The intention was to build the tri-forces headquarters in a way that would not burden the Treasury,” he said.

When asked if he would be willing to take on the leadership of the country – if asked to, Gotabhaya replied that the role was unimportant to him, what was important was the motherland.

“I am willing to accept any role under any leader who truly cares for the country,” the former Defense Secretary further said.