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High Court acquits Basil and three others in Divineguma misappropriation case
The Colombo High Court yesterday acquitted former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and three others indicted over the alleged financial misappropriation involving the Divineguma funds.
The Attorney General (AG) had filed indictments against them on the charges of misappropriating Rs. 33 million belonging to the Divineguma Department in the run-up to the presidential election in 2015.
The indictments were filed against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Economic Development Ministry’s Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilake, former Divineguma Department Director General Kithsiri Ranawaka and former Divineguma Department Deputy Director General Bandula Tillakasiri.
They were acquitted by Colombo High Court Judge R. Gurusunghe.
Earlier, the AG had commenced trials against the four accused under the Penal Code and Offences against the Public Property Act for alleged misappropriation of public funds.
On 25 November, 2020 ,the Colombo High Court lifted the overseas travel ban imposed on former Minister Rajapaksa and Divineguma Department Director General Kithsiri Ranawaka.