The case filed against Hambantota district MP Namal Rajapaksa and five others for their alleged involvement in laundering Rs.30 million through Gowers Corporate Services was yesterday fixed for December 13 by the Colombo High Court.
Four accused including Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Nithya Senani Samaranayake, Sujani Bogollagama and Iresha Silva, directors of Gowers Corporation were present in court when the case was taken up before High Court Judge Piyasena Ranasinghe yesterday.
However, the second accused Indika Karunajeewa was not present in Court but was represented by an attorney.
The fifth accused Nithya Senani Samaranayake was permitted to go abroad by the High Court.
The High Court permitted the prosecution to proceed the trial in the absencia of second and sixth accused in terms of section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Colombo High Court served indictments on three accused regarding this money laundering case.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against Namal Rajapaksa, Indika Karunajeewa, Sujani Bogollagama, Iresha Silva, Nithya Senani Samaranayake and Gowers Corporate Services on 11 counts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for their alleged involvement in money laundering amounting to Rs.30 million in a company (Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited) owned by Namal Rajapaksa between 2013 and 2014.
It was reported that Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited of Colombo 5, is providing coordinating services to Sri Lankan Airlines.The FCID had initiated investigations into this matter following a complaint by Voice Against Corruption Convener Wasantha Samarasinghe.
Samarasinghe alleged that MP Namal Rajapaksa had bought shares of a company named Hello Corp and set up a company called Gowers Corporate Services while being an MP from the Rs.125 million earned through illegal means.
State Counsel Padmal Weerasinghe appeared for the Attorney General. President’s Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe appeared for Namal Rajapaksa. Counsel Sampath Mendis with Jeewantha Jayatilleke appeared for the other accused.
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