The case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was taken up before the Colombo High Court today (July 09).
Yasara Abeynayake, who gave evidence there, admitted before the court that she had visited the house located on Mihindu Mawatha, Dehiwala, which is the basis of this case. She further testified that she and Yoshitha Rajapaksa had planned to get married and settle in that house, and that she knew that the house was built by Yoshitha Rajapaksa.
She also said that Yoshitha Rajapaksa was serving in the Navy at the time the house was built.
In response to cross-examination by President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for the accused Yoshitha Rajapaksa, she further stated that the house in question was a very large mansion with a large number of rooms.
A landowner named Lucian Ratnayake also testified here and said that he had transferred his land of about 31 perches located on Kekatiya Road, Ratmalana to his friend Wasantha Kumara Jayasuriya for sale. He stated that he later sold the land in question to someone he had brought along for Rs. 34.5 million, and that the relevant deed was signed at the Standard Chartered Bank in Rajagiriya.
He said that he signed the deed after depositing the money into his bank account, and that he did not know who deposited the money, but the name of a woman named ‘Daisy Forrest’ was mentioned as the buyer on the deed.