Payment made: Accused in D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case released

The case was taken up before the Trial-at-Bar Bench comprising High Court Judges Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Damith Thotawatte and Namal Balalle.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed court that he would not be conducting evidence on the charges filed against the accused under the powers vested in the Attorney General under Section 194 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Following that the Bench ordered the release of the accused in the case.

Former Chairman of the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation Prasad Harshan de Silva, Bhadra Udulawathi Kamaladasa, Sudammika Keminda Attygalle, Saman Kumara Abraham Galappaththi, Marukku Devage Mahinda Saliya and Srimathi Mallika Kumari Senadheera were acquitted by the Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar.

The Deputy Solicitor General has informed Court that the Chairman of the Corporation has informed the Attorney General in writing that all the money spent by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation Association for the construction of the museum on which this case is based has been paid by the D.A Rajapaksa Memorial Foundation by July 13, 2017.

Defence and the aggrieved party also testified in court at the time confirming that fact before court.

DSG Dileepa Pieris stated that the Attorney General has not withdrawn the case and the case filed against the accused will be concluded without recording any evidence as he has legally informed that the loss incurred by the Corporation has been paid by the respondents. Accordingly, DSG informed court that the case filed against the accused was concluded under the powers vested in the Attorney General under Section 194 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Accordingly, the Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar ordered the release of the six accused from the case.