Basil to be indicted in two weeks

Under offences against public property act

Friday, May 15, 2015

Former Minister and UPFA Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa will be served indictment before the Colombo High Court by the end of this month, Attorney General's Department sources said.

They also added that Rajapaksa and other suspects of the case will be served indictment under offences against the public property Act. Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilaka, former Director General of the Divi neguma Department, R.R.K. Ranawaka and Divi Neguma Regional Director Bandula Thilakasiri are presently in remand in connection with alleged misappropriation of Divi Neguma funds. They will be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate on May 20.

Rajapaksa and his officials were arrested on April 22 by the Police after being questioned for over 10 hours.

Investigations into the case were carried out by the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID).

The FCID charged the former Minister of misappropriating Divineguma funds for the election campaign of his brother, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa before the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court. He was also charged for spending public funds worth Rs. 70 million to hold a conference.

MP Rajapaksa, who left the country just after the Presidential Election on January 08, 2015 returned to the country in April, to support the investigations over allegations against him. While in the US, Rajapaksa stepped down from his position as the National Organizer of the SLFP, accepting responsibility for his brother's defeat at the Presidential election. Rajapaksa was also the Manager of former President Rajapaksa's election campaign.

After returning to the country he was welcomed by his supporters who gathered at the BIA. Upon his arrival, Rajapaksa told media that he had not robbed public money and all decisions that were taken during his tenure as Economic Development minister was for the betterment of the country.