Colombo HC lifts travel ban on Basil Rajapaksa

by Zulfick Farzan 30-11-2020 | 1:07 PM

Colombo (News 1st); Two cases filed with the Colombo High Court against Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Former Director-General of the Divineguma Development Department Kithsiri Ranawaka over the misappropriation of public funds to purchase GI pipes & to print almanacs were called up on Monday (30) following a request made by the defense counsel via a motion.

Colombo High Court judges Dhammika Ganepola and Damith Thotawatte ordered to lift the overseas travel ban imposed on Basil Rajapaksa and Kithsiri Ranawaka.

The Attorney General had filed the cases against the duo for allegedly printing five million almanacs with the image of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at a cost of Rs. 29.4 million of funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Department, to be used as election propaganda material, during the January 2015 Presidential Election as well as for allegedly misappropriating Rs.36.5 million funds belongs to the Divi Neguma Development Department to purchase and distribute GI pipes during the last Presidential Election.

Earlier on Monday (30), Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and 3 others were acquitted and released by the Colombo High Court in the case filed over the misappropriation of public funds to distribute roofing sheets during the run up to the 2015 Presidential Election.

The Attorney General filed the case against Former Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Former Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilake, Former Director-General of the Divineguma Development Department Kithsiri Ranawaka, and the Former Deputy Director-General of the Divineguma Development Department Bandula Thilakasiri for committing offenses punishable under the public property act under 05 separate indictments for the criminal misappropriation of Rs. 2991 million from the Divineguma Development Department, for the distribution of steel roofing sheets to Divineguma beneficiaries during the run up to the 2015 Presidential Election.