Gamage said there was no direct email correspondence between Rajapaksa and Airbus and claimed none of the emails referred to contained Rajapaksa’s name.
He said the email exchanges were between officials connected to companies involved in the transaction and did not establish any involvement by Rajapaksa.
Gamage also rejected allegations that Rajapaksa had received a bribe in connection with the Airbus transaction and denied claims that money linked to the transaction had been deposited into an account belonging to Shameendra Rajapaksa.
According to Gamage, the case against Rajapaksa is primarily based on a statement given by businessman Nimal Perera. He argued that a person cannot be convicted solely on the statement of an alleged accomplice without independent corroborating evidence.
The SLPP lawyer also alleged that sections of the government were attempting to distort the matter and create a misleading impression among the public.
He further claimed that the Public Property Act was being used for political purposes against Rajapaksa and said attempts to imprison him would not prevent the SLPP or its political movement from continuing its activities.
