Documents stating that Yoshitha and grandmother own Ratmalana property and an Ella estate.

The prosecution informed the court yesterday (16th) that the indictment in the case filed against former Navy Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his 98-year-old grandmother Daisy Forest would be amended and proceeded with. The case involves charges including the failure to disclose how a fixed deposit exceeding five hundred ninety-six lakhs seventy-nine thousand nine hundred rupees (Rs.

59,679,900) was earned. This case has been filed against them under three charges, including the failure to disclose how this fixed deposit was acquired.

When the case was called before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmika Singappuli, both defendants, who are out on bail, appeared in court. The defense had previously filed a revised petition with the Court of Appeal, arguing that only one defendant, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, could not be prosecuted under conspiracy charges, as Ms. Daisy Forest had been released from another case earlier due to medical recommendations. However, Government Attorney Oswald Jayasinghe Perera informed the court that the Court of Appeal had rejected this objection and granted legal permission to proceed with the case against the defendants under the relevant conspiracy charges. After considering the submissions, the High Court decided to refer the case for a pre-trial conference.

These indictments, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006, are based on deposits made in banks in Colombo and Tangalle between March 31, 2009, and December 12, 2013. In connection with this case, the Attorney General's Department previously informed the court that Mr. Yoshitha Rajapaksa received a salary of Rs. 73,000 per month while serving in the Navy, but he had not withdrawn these funds from his account. It was also revealed that his grandmother, Ms. Daisy Forest, worked as a hostel warden at S. Thomas' College, and her monthly salary at the time was a meager Rs. 300.

103 individuals, including dignitaries and various high-ranking officials, have been named as state witnesses for this case. Among them, five naval officers, including former Navy Commander Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah and Lieutenant Commander T.A.A. Arandara, appear as key witnesses. Additionally, former Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Vajira Wijegunawardena, and former Director General of the Department of Inland Revenue, W.A.S. Chandrasekara, are among the other witnesses. 25 case exhibits have also been named, including summary documents of 4 bank accounts belonging to the defendants, stock market investment details, asset and liability statements, and documents related to the purchase of land and houses in Kekatiya, Ratmalana, and Ella Newburgh Estate.

These indictments were filed before the High Court on April 11 by Senior State Counsel Udara Karunathilaka, acting on the instructions of the Attorney General, seven years after the investigation file was initially opened in 2018. For yesterday's court session, Government Attorney Oswald Jayasinghe Perera appeared for the prosecution, while President's Counsels Sampath Mendis and Anil Silva appeared for the defense.