^{The Colombo Fort Magistrate today ordered the Fort Police to record a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding} 

the ongoing investigation into the sum of Rs. 17.8 million recovered by protesters inside the President’s House on July 9th.

Magistrate Thilina Gamage made this order pursuant to a request made by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne.

The court was informed that police had yet to record a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding the investigations into the recovery of money from room number 4 of the President’s House.

Defense Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne PC reiterated the necessity of having a comprehensive investigation into the recovery of money in order to ascertain the real purpose behind the incident. He convinced the court of the importance of recording a statement from the former president, who stayed at the premises prior to the protesters’ capture. He said police should conduct an investigation to ascertain whether money was kept as a means of bribery or not.

He made these remarks when the case was filed against Fr. Jeewantha Peiris and several others for forcibly entering the President’s House on the 9th of Julyand taken for inquiry before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court