Local media have reported that rugby star Wasim Thajudeen was killed over a personal dispute that involved Rajapaksa's second son Yoshitha, a fellow rugby player.
Sri Lanka's former president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday denied his son was involved in the 2012 controversial death of a national rugby player, a day before the victim's body is to be exhumed for a re-investigation.
"I welcome the investigation. This will help our family to clear our names," Rajapaksa told reporters.
"But the timing of the investigation suggests that the government is trying to make political capital out of it," he added, alluding to the next week's parliamentary elections, which he is contesting.
Police said the body of rugby star Wasim Thajudeen will be exhumed on Monday for forensic tests after a magisterial order issued last week, following allegations that authorities covered up the investigation during Rajapaksa's regime. Thajudeen's car was found burnt in May 2012 with his body inside and though police has recorded the death as a motor accident, local media have reported that Thajudeen was killed over a personal dispute that involved Rajapaksa's second son Yoshitha, a fellow rugby player.
After Rajapaksa, 69, was defeated in the January presidential poll by his deputy Maithripala Sirisena, fresh evidence emerged which suggested that all police records on Thajudeen's murder may have been tampered with. A CCTV footage from the neighbourhood also emerged which suggested that Thajudeen was abducted before his death.
Last month, police told a court that they had fresh evidence in the case and wanted to re-open the case, while government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne accused three members of Rajapaksa's security contingent as the men who abducted and killed Thajudeen.
Rajapaksa on Sunday assured that he would continue the investigation after August 17 elections if his party UPFA wins the parliamentary election. He is running for the parliament in the August 17 poll, becoming Sri Lanka's first former president to do so after demitting the office.
Rajapaksa, who is accused of syphoning off billions of dollars from the state during his almost decade-long rule, is also facing graft charges, along with several of his siblings. He has denied wrongdoing and termed the graft charges as political witch hunt.
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 "Mahinda Rajapakse")
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