Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others released on bail

Colombo (News1st) - Indictments were served on former Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others on Monday (September 10) at the Permanent High Court Trial at Bar. The indictments were served for the misappropriation of Rs. 33.9 Million in public funds for the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial Museum was taken up. The defendants were released on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 each and two sureties of Rs. 1 Million each. The case was taken up before a trial at bar comprising of Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne this morning. The other defendants were;

• Chairman of the Land Reclamation & Development Corporation - Prasad Harshan de Silva
• Former General Manager Srimathi Mallika Kumari Senadheera
• Former Director Bhadra Udulawathi Kamaladasa
• Former Director Keminda Atigala
• Former Director Saman Kumara Galapaththi
• M.D. Mahinda Saliya

When the case was taken up, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris said the defendants must be remanded as per the law after they are handed over the charge sheets to ensure the trial continues uninterrupted. Deputy Solicitor General Peiris was appearing on behalf of the AG. However, he did not oppose the granting of bail to the defendants, taking into account that they held high positions in Government and are less likely to avoid court. Justice Sampath Abeykoon noted that, as the defendants are charged under the Public Property Act and the Penal Code, it is at the discretion of court that bail will be granted. He said that if bail is granted, there needs to be approval from the Attorney General. The court issued an order barring the defendants from traveling overseas and granted bail under the condition they surrender their passports to court. The case will be taken up on the 9th of October.