The Special High Court has decided to take up the trial of D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case on the 9th of January, stated Ada Derana reporter.

This decision was taken over the stay order issued by the Supreme Court on the Permanent High Court at Bar preventing the trial.

The case was taken up today (15) before the three-judge bench comprising Sampath Abhayakoon, Sampath Wijeyeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratne.

Deputy Solicitor General Dilipa Peiris representing the Attorney General pointed out that the Supreme Court had issued a stay order on the case until the 10th of December.

President’s Counsel Ali Sabri, appearing on behalf of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, told the court that the Supreme Court had extended the stay order until December 20.

Therefore, the defense counsel requested the court to set a date for the hearing of the case after the 20th of December.

Accordingly, the three-judge bench cancelled today’s hearing of the case and ordered the case to be taken up again on the 9th of January.

The case against the former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others was filed by the Attorney General, for allegedly misappropriating state funds amounting to Rs 33.9 million during the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana.

The Permanent High Court at Bar had rejected the preliminary objections filed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa stating that it does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The former defense secretary then lodged a revision petition with the Court of Appeal seeking an order suspending the rejection of his appeal. However, the Appeals Court ruled that it does not have the jurisdiction to hear the revision petition, hence, rejected it without taking it up.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa then filed a special appeal petition with the Supreme Court challenging the Appeals Court verdict.

On July 25th, the Supreme Court delivered an order preventing trial at Special High Court against Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case till the 1st of October, taking into consideration a special appeal petition lodged by the main defendant. This stay order was initially extended by the Supreme Court on October 01 and later until the 10th of December.