The case filed against Hambantota district Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and five others under the Money Laundering Act, was yesterday postponed for July 31 by Colombo High Court Judge Sampath Abeykoon.
The case was postponed since a main witness in the case was not present in court.
The court was informed that witness Rohan Abey Iriyagolla, the chairman of Boston Capital Pvt Ltd was not present in court since he was suffering from an illness.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against six accused for their alleged involvement in laundering money amounting to Rs.30 million through Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited.
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 Pvt Ltd were present in court when the case was taken up before the Colombo High Court.
However, the second accused Indika Karunajeewa was not present in Court but represented by attorneys.
On a previous occasion, the High Court permitted the prosecution to proceed the trial in absencia of the second and sixth accused in the case in terms of section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
On a previous occasion, the Colombo High Court had served indictments on three accused regarding the 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 (Pvt) Limited 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 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 (Pvt) Limited while being an MP from the Rs.125 million earned through illegal means.
Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige appeared for the Attorney General.
President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana with Jayantha Weerasinghe PC appeared for Namal Rajapaksa. President’s Counsel Anil de Silva appeared for the third accused.
Counsel Sampath Mendis appeared for the second accused.
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