Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa contradicted his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa when he described the underground shelter at the President's House in Colombo as a house.

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Speaking to a local web-media station, Gotabaya Rajapaksa pointed out that "its not an underground bunker, but a house. It was constructed for shelter in the case of an aerial attack".

The former defence secretary also claimed that the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not want such a construction. It was constructed after consultation with the top brass of the security establishment and even the then commanders of the armed forces approved of it.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa also said that it was not constructed in secrecy.

The underground house was not constructed specifically for Mahinda Rajapaksa, but for the security of anyone who happened to be the President. At the time, the President's life was in danger and any harm to his life could have led to unforeseen circumstances, Gotabaya Rajapaksa also said.