Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera appeared before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division on Tuesday to record a statement in the investigation into the MiG aircraft procurement deal, the Daily Mirror and NewsFirst reported.

NewsFirst reported at 2.19pm that Perera had arrived at the division and that a statement was being recorded from him. He was summoned as part of the ongoing inquiry into the procurement.

Neither outlet reports that Perera has been arrested, named a suspect or charged.

The third senior appearance in a week

Perera is the third senior figure to give a statement in the same investigation within days. Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appeared before the FCID on 11 September, leaving after several hours, and former Air Force commander Roshan Goonetileke gave evidence for more than five hours the previous day.

The Daily Mirror’s report on Tuesday refers to Goonetileke as Marshal of the Air Force — the rank Hiru News has used throughout, and a shift from the Daily Mirror’s own earlier reporting, which called him Air Chief Marshal (Retd.). These are distinct ranks and no outlet has explained the discrepancy.

What the MiG investigation concerns

The case covers the 2006 purchase and refurbishment of MiG-27 aircraft from Ukraine. Rajapaksa was Defence Secretary that year. Officials maintained at the time that it was a direct government-to-government transaction with the Ukrainian state enterprise Ukrinmash.

Investigators later found payments were routed instead through Bellimissa Holdings, an intermediary registered in the British Virgin Islands. On findings the FCID presented to court, only part of the money reached the Ukrainian state entity while nearly US$7 million was allegedly misappropriated. After a three-year inquiry the FCID concluded that the agreement signed on 26 July 2006 was allegedly a fraudulent document.

Perera commanded the Air Force at the time of the transaction, which places him at the centre of the period under scrutiny — though neither report states what investigators are asking him about.

Not reported

Neither outlet says how long Perera was questioned, whether he has been summoned again, or what specific aspect of the procurement his statement covers. Neither gives the FCID’s timetable for concluding the inquiry or says whether further summonses have been issued. No comment from Perera or his lawyers is recorded.

Sources: Daily Mirror, NewsFirst.