The case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was taken up before the Colombo High Court today (July 09).
Giving evidence, Yasara Abeynayake stated that she had visited the house on Dehiwala's Mihindu Mawatha, which is the basis of this case. She further testified that she and Yoshitha Rajapaksa had planned to get married and settle in that house, and that the house was built by Yoshitha Rajapaksa.
She said that Yoshitha Rajapaksa served in the Navy during the construction of the house and that he also supported the activities of the 'CSN' channel.
Responding to cross-examination by President's Counsel Sampath Mendis, who appeared for the defendant Yoshitha Rajapaksa, she further stated that the house in question was a very large mansion with a large number of rooms.
Landowner Lucian Ratnayake also testified and said that he had transferred his land of about 31 perches located on Kekatiya Road, Ratmalana to his friend Wasantha Kumara Jayasuriya for sale. He said that Wasantha Kumara had then brought a buyer but had not told him who he was.
He stated that the land in question was sold for Rs. 34.5 million and that the relevant deed was signed at the Standard Chartered Bank in Rajagiriya.
He said that he had signed the deed after depositing the money into his bank account and that he did not know who had deposited the money and that the name of a woman named ‘Daisy Forest’ was mentioned as the buyer in the deed.