Sri Lanka: Court postpones hearing of misappropriation case to 2020

A special court in Sri Lanka postponed the hearing of the case against Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, an Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate along with six others to next year who were in connection with the alleged misappropriation of public funds on October 15. Rs.33.9 million public funds were used in the construction of the DA Rajapaksa museum and memorial in Medamulana and the next hearing for the case of misappropriation will take place reportedly on January 9, 2020. Moreover, since the hearing has been postponed, the judges also decided not to hear the evidence in the embezzlement case. 

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Interim Injunction

Sri Lankan Supreme Court has issued an interim injunction against hearing the evidence until December 20 which also led the three-judge table responsible for the case to not register the evidence. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former President Sri Lanka had filed a misappropriation case of SLR 33.9 million in public funds during the construction of the DA Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana. Under section 5(1) of the Public Property Act and Section 388 of the Penal Code, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Public Property Act, seven of the accused were also reportedly charged. 

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SLFP extends support

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party on October 9 announced that they will extend support to  Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during his presidential election campaign. Nimal Siripala de Silva, the SLFP parliamentarian said that SLFP has decided to sign two memorandums of Understanding as a new alliance called the Sri Lanka Freedom People's Alliance. The former Sri Lankan President filed an appeal in the Supreme court on January 11 and challenged the order to reject his preliminary objections and requested to annul the previous order by a lower court. Moreover, Colombo's highest court has currently scheduled the hearing of  Gotabhaya's appeal on December 10. The Sri Lankan Election Commission has announced the Presidential elections for November 16. 

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(With ANI inputs)