The Colombo High Court has ordered that a narcotics case involving three defendants, among them alleged drug trafficker Shiran Basik, be called again on October 2, Ada Derana reported on Tuesday.
The case was taken up before High Court Judge Nayomi Wickramasekara. Basik, who is being held by the Police Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), was produced before the court.
Ada Derana did not report the reason for the postponement, the nature of the offence charged, or the identities of the two co-defendants.
The wider investigation
Basik was brought back to Sri Lanka from Dubai in August and placed under a CCIB detention order. The bureau’s investigation has since widened well beyond the narcotics file now before the High Court.
Investigators have examined his hotel interests and alleged links to terrorism financing and reviewed bank accounts connected to him. Two political figures have been questioned in the course of that work — former State Minister Arundika Fernando on September 3, and Dhanasiri Amaratunga on September 1.
Tuesday’s hearing concerns the criminal case itself rather than that broader inquiry, and the October 2 date is the next fixed step in it.
Ada Derana was the only verified newsroom to report the hearing. Note that outlets differ on the spelling of the name: Ada Derana writes “Basik” while NewsFirst has used “Basick.”
