Rajapaksa's son denies mother's role in gold scam

Colombo, Jan 27: The son of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday strongly rejected allegations that his mother was involved in a gold scam and urged the newly elected government to "leave them alone". Namal Rajapaksa, the elder son of the former president and a member of parliament, said his mother and former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was not involved in any crime and the accusations levelled against her were politically motivated. "If political revenge is the main objective, attack my father and myself, and stop making false allegations against my mother and brothers," Xinhua news agency quoted the former president's son as telling reporters. A complaint was lodged with the Bribery and Corruption Commission Monday against Shiranthi Rajapaksa for her alleged involvement in a Sri Lankan Rs.500-million ($3.79 million) gold scam. The complaint was lodged by the wife of a former senior police officer, who alleged that her husband was arrested under false charges because he spearheaded an investigation into a conspiracy to sell 100 kg of gold belonging to the treasury.