The Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court was informed today (12) that 98-year-old Daisy Forrest, the second accused in the case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is suffering from memory loss or dementia and is unable to give instructions for the continuation of the case.

President’s Counsel Anil Silva, appearing for Forrest, submitted medical reports to court indicating her condition and noted that in 2017 the court had already ruled Daisy Forrest was incapable of managing her own property, which was then placed under another person’s control. On that basis, he requested that she be released from the case.

Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the Attorney General’s Department, told court that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had recorded a statement from Forrest in 2016 before two attorneys-at-law, but that the statement had not been presented at the time, either before the Magistrate’s Court or any other judicial body. Since this was the first time the issue had been raised in court, he requested that a special medical board be appointed to examine Daisy Forrest’s condition.

He further pointed out that in April 2016, the CID found a valuable gem collection in Forrest’s possession, and although the properties were registered under her name, the funds used to purchase them were allegedly provided by Yoshitha Rajapaksa. Therefore, releasing her from the case could benefit another party, he argued.

The Magistrate inquired from the CID whether Forrest was suffering from this condition at the time her initial statement was recorded. The CID responded that she was not diagnosed with such an illness at that time.

The Magistrate also questioned the defence on why Forrest’s medical condition had not been previously disclosed. The case was postponed to 26 November for the Attorney General’s Department to state its position.