Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar on Friday ordered the release of six accused from the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case filed by the Attorney General.
On a previous occasion, the Court released President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa from this case after considering the constitutional immunity enjoyed by the President under the Constitution.
Accordingly, the indictments proceeded against six accused, who were 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.
They were, ordered to be released from the case on Friday, by the Trial-at-Bar bench comprising High Court Judges Champa Janaki Rajaratne (President), Damith Thotawatte and Namal Balalle.
President’s Counsel Anil Silva appearing for the defence, submitted to Court that they had requested the Attorney General, urging to release six accused since the case cannot proceed without the first accused. He further said, the defence had brought to the attention of the Attorney General the fact that due payment owed to LRDC have already been made by D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris appearing for the Attorney General, informed the Court that the Attorney General decided not to proceed with the case since the due payment owed to Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC) settled. He moved Court to release the six accused in terms of, section 194(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Counsel for the LRDC also admitted that the Chairman of LRDC had issued a letter in this regard, confirming that D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation has made the due payment.
