Gota's request to file appeal at SC rejected by Special High Court

The Special High Court has rejected a request by former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and seven others who sought to file an appeal before the Supreme Court against an order issued by the three-member high court rejecting the preliminary objections put forward by the group. 

Approval was sought to file the appeal challenging the Special High Court's decision to dismiss the preliminary objections filed by the accused in the case pertaining to the misappropriation of funds in the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa memorial museum.

This was announced when the case was taken up before the three-member judge bench at the Special High Court today (Feb 22).

Meanwhile, the attorney representing the sixth suspect in the case  said that his client would not be able to provide witness during today's hearing since he was hospitalised and is due to undergo a surgery. Accordingly, court ordered the attorney to submit the medical report of his client to court on a later date.

On a previous occassion, the accused had filed a preliminary objection claiming that the Special High Court was not vested with the powers to hear the case.

However, the Special High Court rejected those objections by pointing out that the court concerned was established according to the Judicature Act. Court also noted that the Attorney General had filed the case at the Special High Court only after obtaining approval from the Chief Justice.