The Colombo High Court today fixed for February 1 to deliver its order regarding an application filed on behalf of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director-General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawakarequesting to acquit them from the almanac case, without calling for defence evidence.
Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Kithsiri Ranawakafiled this application through their lawyers on the basis that the prosecution evidence has failed to establish the commission of the offencerelating to the charges against the accused in the indictment.
The defence filed this application before High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta in terms of Section 200 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure requesting the Court to record a verdict of acquittal, on behalf of the two accused, in view of the fact that the evidence led by the prosecution totally failed to establish the commission of the offence.
The Attorney General today announced that the prosecution has concluded recording evidence of prosecution witnesses.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director-General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka in the Colombo High Court for allegedly printing 5 million almanacs with the image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, costing Rs.29.4 million, to be used as election propaganda material, during January-2015 Presidential election.
The Attorney General had alleged that by printing these almanacs between 23 November and 31 December 2014, these accused had attempted to influence citizens of this country to vote for presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Attorney General maintained that the act of the accused deems them him guilty of the offence of bribery by section 79 of the Presidential Election Act No 15 of 1981.
