Bulletproof Vehicle of Mahinda Recovered: Attorney-at-law Manoj Gamage
05-Oct-2025.
Attorney-at-law Manoj Gamage, media spokesperson for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, stated that following the enactment of the law abolishing presidential privileges, all vehicles including the bulletproof vehicle allocated to the former President had been returned to the relevant authorities. However, this move has weakened the security of the former President, he stressed.
Speaking at a press conference held in Colombo on October 4, he explained that, in accordance with the new law, the Presidential Secretariat had informed Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 24th to return his official residence and vehicles.
Accordingly, the bulletproof vehicle and vehicles of his security officers had been handed over.
This has created a serious risk to the former President’s life. The bulletproof vehicle was originally provided due to life-threatening dangers he faced after ending the 30-year war. It was in such a vehicle that the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa survived a suicide bomb attack.
He said they will request the authorities, including the Inspector General of Police, to reallocate the vehicle to ensure the former President’s safety.
This request will also be formally submitted in writing.
Apart from personal belongings, several government-owned items remain at the official residence at Wijerama, and the government must remove them before their own possessions can be shifted, which is why the handover of the residence has been delayed.
The residence is currently not in use, he added, while condemning the weakening of the former President’s security despite his role in ending the war.
He also emphasized that not only Waseem Thajudeen but all those killed in the past must be given justice, though such cases should not be used for political revenge.
He alleged that the government had recently tried to use a person named Gazza to release a major film on the issue, but the attempt failed due to disclosures made by Gazza’s son.
He reiterated that they are not against investigations, but insisted they must not be manipulated through political allies for partisan purposes.
