The case against the former President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and three others was taken up before the Permanent High Court-at-Bar today (30).
Accordingly, the three-judge bench consisting of Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne ordered that the decision on whether the appeals filed by Gamini Senarath and three others will be submitted to the Supreme Court will be issued on November 02.
The Attorney General had filed the case against the defendants including Gamini Senarath, under the Public Property Act for allegedly misappropriating Rs 500 million funds belonging to Litro Gas Lanka by investing in ventures including the Helanko Hotels & Spa hotel project, from 1st of February 2014 to 20th January 2015.
Representing the defense President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana stated that they intend to file an appeal before the Supreme Court against an order issued by the Permanent High Court at Bar on October 23 with regard to the case.
Accordingly, the defense has expressed its discontent over the order issued by the Permanent High Court regarding the request made by the defense seeking the documents of the case in order to prepare for the case.
President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana also requested the court to submit the appeals to the Supreme Court under the Section 12 of Judicature (Amendment) Act and to suspend the hearing of the case until the verdict of Supreme Court is received.
Defying the request of the defense, Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige stated that the defense does not have a legal right to submit an appeal of this sort.
Hence, the Deputy Solicitor General sought an order from the Permanent High Court rejecting the submission of the relevant appeals to the Supreme Court.
Considering the submissions, the Permanent High Court at Bar ordered that the verdict whether the appeals would be submitted to the Supreme Court will be issued on November 02.
Piyadasa Kudabalage and Neil Bandara Hapuhinna and Lasantha Bandara have been named as the other three defendants of the case.
