The appeal papers filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others seeking permission to file an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the Permanent High Court-at-Bar’s decision to overrule their preliminary objections regarding D. A. Rajapaksa Museum case have been rejected by Permanent High Court-at-Bar.
On February 11, the Permanent High Court-at-Bar decided to overrule preliminary objections raised by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others in connection with the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case citing Permanent High Court-at-Bar has jurisdiction to hear this case.
The Trial-at-Bar Bench comprising High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne announced that court decided to reject appeal papers filed by the seventh accused who sought court’s permission to file an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging an order issued by Permanent High Court-at-Bar.
Meanwhile, the sixth accused Devage Mahinda Saliya was not present in court yesterday and court was informed that the accused underwent a surgery. The court directed the Defence Counsel that a medical report pertaining to the accused’s health condition be submitted in court on March 1.
Accordingly, the case was fixed for March 1 to assess the stance of the six accused whether he pleads guilty to the charges or not.
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 of Rs.33.9 million.
The seven accused are currently out on bail. Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris with Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera appeared for the Attorney General. President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva with Ali Sabry PC and Anil Silva PC appeared for the accused.
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