The Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar issued an order directing the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC) Chairman to appear in Court on January 17 in connection with the indictments filed against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and six others.
The court made this order to inquire from the LRDC Chairman, as to why the LRDC failed to submit in court several documents pertaining to the indictments.
The case filed against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and six others in connection with an incident that the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana was built using public funds amounting to Rs.33.9 million was fixed for January 17 by the Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar.
When the case came up before the Trial-at-Bar bench comprised High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne, counsel on behalf of the LRDC told court that her Corporation is not in a position to submit several documents pertaining to the indictments. Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris appearing for the Attorney General sought an order directing the LRDC Chairman to personally appear in court to inquire into their failure to submit these documents.
This case has been fixed for day-to-day trial commencing January 22 by the Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar.
Indictments were filed against seven accused, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, members of the director board of Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC) Chairman Prasad Harshan de Silva, Bhadra Udulawathi Kamaladasa, Sudammika Keminda Artigala, Saman Kumara Abraham Galappatti, Devage Mahinda Saliya and Srimathi Mallika Kumari Senadheera under seven counts for allegedly misappropriating LRDC funds amounting to Rs.33.9 million. The seven accused are currently out on bail.However, first accused Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not present in court on Friday.Court was informed that Rajapaksa had gone abroad with court’s permission.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris with Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera appeared for the Attorney General. President’s Counsel Ali Sabry with Anil Silva PC appeared for the accused.