Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa appeared before the Special High Court for Corruption this morning over the case filed against the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa museum in Weeraketiya.

The case is heard on a daily basis before the Special Court set up last year to expedite the hearings of cases of bribery and corruption. 

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 previously informed the 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 issue concerning the project is that the due process has not been followed when obtaining approval and carrying out constructions. 

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.