Basil arrested, granted bail

Former Economic Development Minister and brother of ex President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) yesterday, and granted bail a few hours later by the Matara Magistrate.

The former Minister was arrested at the FCID’s Chatham Street office around 11.30AM yesterday, on Money Laundering charges. The charges relate to a property allegedly purchased by Basil Rajapaksa in Browns Hill, Matara for Rs. 50 million.

At about 3p.m.  Rajapaksa was produced before the Matara Magistrate Uresha De Silva and released on personal bail of Rs. 50,000 and three sureties of Rs. 1 million each. He has also been barred from travelling overseas. The case will be called again on 20 July and the former Minister has been ordered to appear.  

The Secretary to the former Minister and two others have also been arrested in connection with the same charges.

Basil Rajapaksa has been indicted on financial fraud charges to the tune of hundreds of millions of rupees in the Divineguma Department which was under the purview of his Ministry while his brother was in power.

Speaking to reporters outside the Matara Magistrate’s Court, Rajapaksa vowed to continue his political activities. “This is a normal thing now. We just face this. There is some relief because there is still some judicial independence. This won’t stop us,” the former Minister said, smiling through the statement.

The former Minister claims the land was purchased by a relative of his living overseas. (DB)