The Elections commissioner had questioned the nature of the donation after receiving a complaint on this regard from National Freedom Front (NFF) member Kapila Gamage.

The complaint had stated that the minister's donation of a house to the family of the woman who was recently shot dead at Kotahena, was an election bribe.

However, minister Karunanayake had told media that he had obtained the approval of the President before donating the house.

“The deceased woman's main desire was to live in a proper house. Considering the humanitarian nature of her wish, President Sirisena approved the donation of the house. We have also consulted the Prime Minister in this regard. This is not a bribe,” he told a news conference.

The minister said the deceased woman had also been a strong United National Party (UNP) supporter for the past 20 years and added that he had informed Mr. Deshapriya about the donation over the phone.