High Court acquits Basil and Divi Neguma DG

By T. Farook Thajudeen

The Colombo High Court yesterday acquitted and released Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and Divi Neguma Development Department former Director General Kithsiri Ranawaka from the almanac case.

Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte observed that the prosecution in this case has failed to prove the allegations against the accused.

Judge Damith Thotawatte further said that the process was carried out in accordance with the accepted procurement process and that the payments were made in a systematic and proper manner.

The judge further observed that the prosecution had failed to prove the prosecution case beyond a reasonable doubt that there had been an abuse or a violation or the provisions of the Presidential Election Act through the process of printing and distribution of almanacs.

Accordingly, the accused were acquitted and released without calling a defence statement.

The Attorney General had filed indictments against Basil Rajapaksa and Kithsiri Ranawaka in the Colombo High Court for allegedly printing five million almanacs with the image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at a cost of Rs. 29.4 million of funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Department, to be used as election propaganda material, during the January 2015 Presidential Election.