Special HC to hear Gotabaya’s case from Jan 22

The Permanent High Court Trial at Bar has decided to hear the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case against the former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa from January 22.

The case was taken up before the Special High Court three-judge bench comprising Judges Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratne this morning (17).

Complying with a notice issued by the Special High Court, the Chairman of Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC) Prashan Gunawardena appeared before the court this morning.

Submitting a report to the Special High Court, the LRDC Chairman stated that most of the documents requested by the defense have been recovered by a committee appointed by him.

Accordingly, the Special High Court ordered to release the LRDC Chairman after recording his statement.

The defense attorney President’s Counsel Ali Sabry informed the court that they intend to present a fundamental objection pertaining to the case before the trial proceedings commence.

Presenting submissions before the judge bench, Deputy Solicitor General Dilipa Peiris stated that several of the 15 witnesses from the LRDC are to travel abroad by the time the case hearing commences. Hence, he sought a court order calling for the witnesses to inform the court in advance on their overseas travel plans in order to avoid the impediment it would have on the trial proceedings.

Accepting the request made by the Deputy Solicitor General, the Special HC judges ordered the witnesses of the case to inform the court if they are to travel overseas on the days in which the hearings are conducted.

Subsequently, the Special HC announced that the hearing of the case would commence on the 22nd of January.

Land Reclamation and Development Authority’s former Chairman Prasad Harshana de Silva, former Director Board members Badrawathie Udulawathie Kamaladasa, Suddammika Keminda Attygalle, Saman Kumara Abraham Galapaththy, Dewage Mahinda Saliya and Srimathi Mallika Kumari Senadhira area the other defendants in the case.

The Attorney General had filed the case against the former Defense Secretary and six others over the alleged misappropriation of state funds amounting to Rs 49 million during the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana.