The money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (July 9).
The case was heard before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga.
Giving evidence under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, former CSN Television Channel Head Yasara Abeynayake testified that she had been in a romantic relationship with Yoshitha Rajapaksa and had served as the Head of the CSN television channel.
She told court that the relationship had ended around 2013 after their families expressed concerns that they were not compatible. Abeynayake further stated that she had visited the house on Mihindu Mawatha in Dehiwala, which is central to the case, as the couple had planned to live there after marriage.
According to her testimony, Yoshitha Rajapaksa had built the house while serving in the Sri Lanka Navy and had also assisted with work related to CSN Television.
During cross-examination by President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the witness described the property as a large house with numerous rooms.
Another witness, Ratmalana resident Lucian Ratnayake, testified that he had decided to sell his 31-perch land located on Kekatiya Road, Ratmalana, and had entrusted the sale to his friend Wasantha Kumara Jayasuriya.
Ratnayake said Jayasuriya introduced a buyer but did not disclose the buyer’s identity. When Deputy Solicitor General Bandara asked why he had not inquired about the purchaser, the witness replied with a smile that he had not asked.
He further testified that the deed transferring the land was signed at the Rajagiriya branch of Standard Chartered Bank after Rs. 34.5 million had been deposited into their bank accounts. He said he did not know who had deposited the money.
Ratnayake told court that the purchaser named in the deed was a woman identified as Daisy Forrest. He also recalled that approximately two years before the land sale, his family had held a garage sale to dispose of household items, during which Yoshitha Rajapaksa had visited the house with his girlfriend.
A further witness, Wasantha Kumara Jayasuriya, testified that Yasara Abeynayake was his relative and had been engaged to Yoshitha Rajapaksa.
He stated that Yoshitha had approached him regarding the purchase of Lucian Ratnayake’s land and that the deed was signed at the Standard Chartered Bank branch in Rajagiriya.
Jayasuriya further claimed that the purchase money had been brought to the bank in bags by individuals who appeared to be security personnel.
The High Court postponed further hearing of the case until July 17.
