The Colombo High Court on Tuesday acquitted and released former minister Udaya Gammanpila from charges of criminal breach of trust involving Rs. 21 million, ruling that the prosecution had not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The order was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Nadee Aparna Suwandurugoda.
The charges
Gammanpila was accused of criminal breach of trust over the alleged misappropriation of company shares belonging to an Australian national, a businessman. The shares were valued at Rs. 21 million.
Delivering the verdict, the judge said the charges brought by the prosecution had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt, and ordered the accused acquitted and released of all charges, the Daily Mirror and NewsFirst reported.
Daily Mirror describes the acquittal as following a lengthy trial.
Who he is
Gammanpila is a lawyer by profession and leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya. He held the energy portfolio in the previous government and has been among the more prominent opposition voices since.
The acquittal is separate from the contempt-of-court proceedings before a three-judge bench in which he is named alongside Wimal Weerawansa and Dilith Jayaweera. Nothing in Tuesday’s order bears on that matter.
Not reported
Neither outlet names the Australian businessman, gives the date the alleged offence occurred, says when the trial began or how long it ran, or identifies the company whose shares were at issue. Neither reports whether the Attorney General’s Department intends to appeal, and neither carries a reaction from Gammanpila.
Sourcing note
Both reports are short same-day court filings that agree on every stated fact — the judge, the sum, the nature of the charge, the nationality of the complainant and the reasoning. The photograph accompanying this article is a file portrait of Gammanpila, not an image from Tuesday’s proceedings.
