The special Corruption High Court - the newly set-up judicial body to expedite cases of large scale corruption - today granted bail to former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and seven others over the case relating to the construction of D.A. Rajapaksa Museum in Hambantota. 

However, the High Court banned all suspects from travelling overseas.

The Former Defence Secrerary,  a front-runner for Joint Opposition's Presidential candidacy in 2020, appeared before the Special Corruption High Court this morning to give evidence in the case. .

​The Attorney General's Department, on August 24,filed a case against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and six others in the Special High Court for corruption over the construction of D.A. Rajapaksa museum in Hambantota. 

It has been revealed that Rs. 90 million has been spent by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation for the construction of the museum and the construction had been carried out by the Sri Lanka Navy. 

The Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division previosly informed court that no Cabinet approval has not been obtained for the D.A.Rajapaksa Memorial Museum  and the project did not have any approval from the Local Government authority in the area- Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha. 

The main allegation levelled against the project was the due process had not been followed when obtaining approval and carrying out constructions. 

The former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaks on whose orders the project was carried out and former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa have already given statements to the FCID on the matter. 

Although the former Defence Secretary said the money had been paid back to the SLRDC, the state-run media alleged that only a section of the money had been paid back and it had been done after the commencement of the Police investigation.