Civil Aviation Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri today said the single engine plane that was found from the Economic Centre in Narahenpita did not  belong to Yoshitha Rajapaksa.

He said the aircraft was originally manufactured by the late Dr. Ray Wijewardena in 1988 and its registration had not been renewed after 1999. He also added that the plane was later handed over to Asian Aviation Centre.

The Civil Aviation Director General Made this remark addressing a press conference that was organized by State Minister for Civil Aviation Faizer Mustapha today.  Mustapha assumed duties at his ministry this morning.

“The Head of the Asian Aviation Centra had gifted the plane to film maker Chandran Ratnam and he had later given it to Yoshitha Rajapaksa. But, Yoshitha Rajapaksa was not the owner of the single engine plane,” the official added.

According to the Civil Aviation Director General, the original ownership of the plane was with Dr. Ray Wijewardena, the manufacturer of the plane.

Chandran Rathnam, giving a statement to the Police last week, said the plane was made to be used at a private pilot school in partnership with a friend.

The film maker said he gave the plane to Yoshitha Rajapaksaafter the former President’s second son asked for it.

The plane, he said, was not in a functional state when the transfer happened.

Meanwhile, addressing the same press conference, Minister Mustapha he did not state at any point that operations of the Mattala International Airport should be stopped.

"We started making commercial decisions. That's the only thing happened. So far, the decisions which were made by authorities were not commercial. They had other preferences. That system, now, has changed!" Mustapha stated.