Psychiatric Report Ordered for Daisy Forest

 The Colombo High Court yesterday (26) decided to call for a psychiatric report to ascertain whether Ms. Daisy Forest, mother-in-law of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is in a suitable mental state to appear in a case filed against her.

When this case, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was called before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, this order was issued to the Chief Judicial Medical Officer of Colombo.

Appearing for the defendant, President's Counsel Anil Silva submitted to the court that his client suffers from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and that it is not lawful to proceed with the case against her given her condition. Responding to the defense's submission, Additional Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the prosecution, requested that it would be more appropriate to obtain a specialist medical report through the Chief Judicial Medical Officer of Colombo to scientifically confirm whether the defendant is in a suitable mental state to face the trial.

This case is based on allegations of illegally acquiring over 80 million rupees between 2012 and 2015, and using it to purchase a 34.5 perch land in Sirimal Uyana, Ratmalana, and property in Dehiwala. The Attorney General filed this case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of the former President, and Daisy Forest, alleging that they committed an offense under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by failing to disclose the source of the funds used to purchase the said properties.

When the case was called previously, the defense lawyers had presented an order issued by the Gangodawila District Court in 2017 to substantiate the defendant's medical condition. However, the Additional Solicitor General pointed out that since that District Court order does not have a direct connection to this criminal case, it is essential to re-examine her ability to face the trial.

Considering the submissions of both parties, the High Court Judge granted the prosecution's request and ordered the Chief Judicial Medical Officer of Colombo to provide a specialist report on the defendant's mental condition. The judge instructed the court registrar to provide a copy of the order to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and scheduled the case to be called again on January 22nd next year.