COLOMBO (TIP): Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday slammed as an act of political revenge his summoning by a graft probe panel over not settling monies he owed to state-owned ITN television station.

Rajapaksa appeared before the Presidential Commission to Probe Serious Acts of Corruption on Thursday for the first time.

Commission officials had previously visited him to record his statement.

Rajapaksa was accused of not paying monies due to ITN for carrying out his propaganda work during the presidential election held on January 8 which he lost.

In a statement after his appearance, Rajapaksa said that he was only a candidate of his party and was not personally aware of transactions between his party’s campaign office and media institutions.

Since his defeat to current president Maithripala Sirisena, Rajapaksa and his family have faced corruption allegations.

Most of his family members have been quizzed by authorities over alleged irregularities during his nine-year rule.