Court orders arrest of Basil in misappropriation case

Thursday, 18 June 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Basil Rajapaksa

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday directed the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Illegal Assets Investigation Unit to arrest former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and produce him before court in connection with an alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena when the case was taken up before court.

During proceedings, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing for the third suspect, informed court that his client was prepared to make a confidential statement under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

CID officers informed court that Rs. 7.8 million allocated to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in 2014 for promotional activities had allegedly been used to distribute 12,000 T-shirts during the Uva Provincial Council election campaign, resulting in a loss to the State.

The Magistrate also ordered the release on bail of the Bureau’s former Managing Director, Rumi Jaufer, who had been held in remand custody. He was released on two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each and was prohibited from travelling overseas.

Investigators informed court that charges had been filed under the Public Property Act.

The Magistrate further sought clarification on whether the Bureau’s former Finance Director, who had been named in the B Report, would also be cited as a suspect. The CID informed court that advice from the Attorney General was still pending.

The case was fixed for further hearing on 14 October.