Yoshitha's case is postponed as the lawyer fell ill

The Colombo High Court today decided to postpone the hearing of evidence in the money laundering case filed against Mr. Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The main reason for the postponement of this case is that the President's Counsel appearing for the defense is unwell.

The case was called today before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, and the accused Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who is currently out on bail, also appeared before the court for it.

The Attorney General has filed this case against Mr. Yoshitha Rajapaksa, alleging that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was violated when purchasing five land plots worth over 730 lakhs (73 million) rupees from the Dehiwala and Ratmalana areas.

Mr. Lucien Ratnayake, a landowner who previously gave evidence in this case, stated that he entrusted the sale of his 31-perch land located on Kekatiya Road, Ratmalana, to his acquaintance, Mr. Wasantha Kumara Jayasuriya. Subsequently, the said land was sold for 34.5 million rupees to a buyer introduced by him, and the deed for it was signed at the Standard Chartered Bank in Rajagiriya.

The witness further stated that he did not know who the buyer was and that he signed the deed after the money was credited to his bank account. He revealed that he did not know who deposited the money, but the land deed listed a woman named 'Daisy Forest' as the buyer. Additionally, the witness recalled before the court that about two years before the sale of the said land, Mr. Yoshitha Rajapaksa had visited a garage sale held there with his girlfriend.