The Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar yesterday fixed for today (4), further trial in a case filed against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief of Staff Gamini Sedara Senarath and three others.
This is for illegally transferring of Rs.500 million from Litro Gas to Canwill Holdings.Menaka Rajakaruna, an accountant attached to Canwill Holdings gave evidence before the Trial-at-Bar comprising High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne.
The witness informed court that the financial transactions done by Canwill Holdings between 2014 and 2017 can be traced through the company’s computer system. Further trial fixed for today (4).
The four accused are former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief of Staff Gamini Sedara Senarath, former Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Managing Director Piyadasa Kudabalage, former Samurdhi Commissioner Neil Bandara Hapuwinna and Lasantha Bandara are currently out on bail.
The four accused had been charged under the Penal Code, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Public Property Act.The Attorney General alleged that the accused have committed this offence between February 1, 2014 and January 20, 2015.
The Attorney General filed indictments against accused for illegally transferring of Rs.500 million from Litro Gas to Canwill Holdings Pvt Limited. The Attorney General further alleged that, the money had instead gone into the account of Helanco Hotels and Spa that backed the proposed Hyatt hotel in Hambantota.
The first instalment of Rs 50 million had been transferred on February 14 while Rs 450 million was sent on February 19. Piyadasa Kudabalage, the second accused in the case, it is alleged, on October 13, 2014 again transferred Rs 48 million from this amount to purchase two plots at Sandatenna, Nuwara Eliya.
It is also alleged that another Rs 18.9 million had been spent to buy an apartment for the use of fourth accused Lasantha Bandara. Therefore, four accused have been charged for money laundering.
Additionally some of this money was used to pay off a credit card bill amounting to around Rs.700,000.The Attorney General has listed 92 documents as evidence while 63 persons have been named as witnesses.
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