Basil Rajapaksa case fixed for 6 December

Colombo High Court Judge Padmini N. Ranawaka yesterday fixed the trial of the case on misappropriating Rs.29 million from Divi Neguma funds against former Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa on 6 December. 

The order was given when the Court took the case yesterday morning after considering the counsel’s request made behalf of Rajapaksa that he could not appear before court yesterday because he was in custody over a separate inquiry. 

The alleged misappropriation of Rs.29 million was filed in courts alleging that Rajapaksa used it to print five million almanacs to distribute during the last presidential election period. 

Divi Neguma Development Department former Director General A. K. K. Ranawaka, who was arrested under the same allegation was also unable to appear before Court as he was in custody.

Both suspects were arrested by the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) on Monday on allegations of misappropriating Divi Neguma funds to supply of GI pipes for Local Government institutes. 

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa yesterday filed a revision application in Colombo High Court seeking bail for the inquiry being conducted on the above allegation at the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court under the Public Property Act. 

He was still in remand as the bail application had been refused by the magistrate earlier.