Several national newspapers yesterday carried full page advertisements in favour of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who ran the risk of being arrested, last week, over misappropriation of public funds. 

The advertisements whose origins were not mentioned ran the line "Our Gota" idolising the former Defence Secretary. 

Rajapaksa was under investigation for misappropriating over Rs. 90 million when building a memorial for his parents, in the Hambanthota district. 

The Attorney General's Department informed the Police last week that the former Defence Secretary could be arrested in connection with the investigation. 

However, the arrest was later prevented, reportedly under President Maithripala Sirisena's instructions.