The Colombo High Court on Thursday fixed September 10 for the continuation of hearings in the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The matter was taken up before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga. It had been postponed in July specifically to August 20, making Thursday the scheduled trial date.
Why the hearing did not proceed
A junior counsel appearing on behalf of President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, who represents Yoshitha Rajapaksa, told court that the accused was appearing in another case before Colombo High Court No. 10.
The junior lawyer also informed court that the mother-in-law of Sampath Mendis had died, making it impossible for the President’s Counsel to appear for the hearing. The defence accordingly asked that the case be taken up on another date.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the Attorney General, told court that Mendis had already notified the prosecution he would be unable to attend. The prosecution raised no objection to a new date, and said arrangements would be made through the Criminal Investigation Department to notify witnesses to appear when the trial resumes.
Judge Ranatunga ordered the further hearing to be called on September 10 and directed the witnesses who had been scheduled to testify on Thursday to appear on the next date.
The charges
NewsFirst reported that the Attorney General filed the case alleging Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by unlawfully acquiring five plots of land in the Dehiwala and Ratmalana areas valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Earlier filings in the same proceedings have also been reported in terms of Rs. 59 million said to have been deposited into three private fixed-deposit accounts. A separate Rs. 17 million matter before the Homagama court is factually unrelated.
Context
The case has moved through repeated preliminary objections and appeals. The Court of Appeal dismissed a revision petition seeking to strike out the conspiracy charge in July, and the Attorney General opposed a Supreme Court bid to halt the High Court trial.
Separately on Thursday, Yoshitha Rajapaksa and former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda were served indictments and released on bail in an unrelated Bribery Commission corruption case.
