The Attorney General told the Colombo High Court on Thursday that legal action will be taken against one of his own prosecution witnesses for allegedly giving false evidence in the money laundering case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara told High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga that witness Palitha Gamage, a real estate businessman, had given testimony contradicting statements he previously made to investigators.
The prosecution was granted permission to treat Gamage as an adverse witness and cross-examine him, Hiru News reported. The court released him on personal bail of Rs. 2 million.
The land at the centre of the case
The Attorney General has charged Yoshitha Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that five land parcels worth more than Rs. 73 million were unlawfully acquired.
Two earlier witnesses testified about a property at No. 163/2, Galle Road, Dehiwala, NewsFirst reported.
Irene Silva said she and her siblings sold the land, that Yoshitha Rajapaksa offered Rs. 3.32 million for her share and she received Rs. 3.37 million. Gamage Violet Fernando said negotiations took place at the residence of Yoshitha’s mother, Shiranthi Rajapaksa; she asked Rs. 5 million and received Rs. 3.3 million, paid at the office of his elder brother Namal Rajapaksa.
Both witnesses said they understood Yoshitha Rajapaksa to be the buyer. Both denied knowing a person named Daisy Forrest, whose name appears in connection with the transaction — Silva said Forrest did not attend either deed signing, and Fernando said she had never met her.
Prosecution nears the end of its evidence
Bandara told the court the prosecution’s evidence could be concluded on the next hearing date, the Daily Mirror reported — placing the case close to the point where the defence would open.
The proceedings follow Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s withdrawal of a Supreme Court appeal in the money laundering matter on 7 September, and a Court of Appeal ruling in July dismissing a related conspiracy petition.
Not reported
None of the three reports states the next hearing date, the charge Gamage would face, or under which statute. No report explains who Daisy Forrest is or why her name is attached to a sale both vendors attribute to Yoshitha Rajapaksa — the apparent core of the prosecution’s case on this parcel. Neither the defence position nor any response from Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s counsel is recorded.
