A case filed against Hambantota district Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and five others for their alleged involvement in laundering Rs.30 million through Gowers Corporate Services was yesterday fixed for trial by the Colombo High Court.
Colombo High Court Judge Sampath Abeykoon fixed the case for trial on February 16. The court was informed that the defence was yet to receive several documents pertaining to the prosecution evidence. Four accused Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Nithya Senani Samaranayake, Sujani Bogollagama and Iresha Silva who functioned as the directors of Gowers Corporation were present in court when the case was taken up before Colombo High Court. However, the second accused Indika Karunajeewa was not present in Court but represented by attorneys.
At a previous occasion, the High Court permitted the prosecution to proceed the trial in the absencia of second and sixth accused in the case in terms of section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code. At a previous occasion, the Colombo High Court had 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 of Colombo 5, was providing coordinating services to SriLankan 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. President's Counsel Anil de Silva appeared for the third accused.
Counsel Sampath Mendis appearing for the second and fourth accused.
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