Basil's warrants further extended

Matara Chief Magistrate Chathura Dissanayake yesterday (21) extended the warrant issued for the arrest and production of Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, former National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and a former Minister, due to his non-appearance in court for a case related to an alleged land transaction in the Matara area. This marks the second occasion the former minister has failed to appear before the court.

This case has been filed based on an incident involving the purchase of a one-and-a-half-acre coconut land in the Browns Hill (Eliyakanda) area of Matara, using 60 million rupees suspected to have been illegally acquired. Warrants were issued in this manner because the suspect also failed to appear at the previous hearing. Meanwhile, the Chief Magistrate warned the four sureties who posted bail for the former minister, sternly instructing them to show cause why the bail money should not be confiscated if they fail to produce the suspect in court.

When the case was called around 10:00 AM, Government Counsel Nalaka Kothalawala, appearing for the prosecution with officers from the Financial Crimes Division, stated that Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, the third suspect in this case, is continuously avoiding court by submitting medical reports. The government counsel also requested the court to further extend the warrant against him in light of this deliberate avoidance.

Responding to this, President's Counsel Anil de Silva, appearing for the suspect former minister, stated that his client has no intention of avoiding court. The President's Counsel mentioned that he is receiving medical treatment abroad and is ready to appear before the court as soon as his health condition improves, and requested the court to withdraw the issued warrant by submitting the relevant medical reports.

Here, the Chief Magistrate, having considered the arguments of both parties, as well as the strong objections raised by the defense against the submissions of the Attorney General's Department, pointed out that the court has no power to cancel the warrant as long as the third defendant does not appear in court. The Magistrate, who thus extended the warrant for the arrest of Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, the third suspect in this case which has been ongoing for 11 years, for the second time, ordered the defense lawyers to submit written submissions and all medical reports of the suspect on the next court date. A team of nine lawyers, including President's Counsel Anil de Silva, appeared for the first, second, and third defendants in this case.