Colombo court fixes Dec.6 to hear embezzlement case against Basil Rajapaksa

Colombo, July 23 : The Colombo High Court has fixed December 6 for hearing the case of misappropriation of funds against former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother Basil Rajapaksa and former director General of the Divi Neguma Department R.A.A. Kithsiri. Ranawaka. The duo are accused of misappropriating Rs.29.4 million of funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Department for printing five million almanacs during the last presidential election, reports the Colombo Page. The Colombo High Court Judge Padmini N. Ranawaka Gunatilleka fixed the case for December 06, while the two accused were absent. Defense counsel said that both accused were in remand prison charged with another case. The judge also ordered the Prisons Superintendent to produce them in Court during the next hearing. Basil Rajapaksa was arrested on July 18 by the Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID). The Kaduwela Magistrate's Court remanded the former minister and Ranawaka till August 1.