UPDATE : Case against Gota and seven others to be heard on Jan 31

The case against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and seven others over the misuse of funds for the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa museum is to be taken up for further hearing on January 31.

President's Counsel Romesh de Silva, representing Mr. Rajapaksa had requested court to grant permission for his client to travel overseas.

He had also filed an objection claiming that the Special High Court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case.

Accordingly, the three-member trial at bar announced that the travel request of Mr. Rajapaksa be put forward before court on January 25.

Further, the prosecutors were ordered to present their counter- objections against the preliminary objections filed today on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case, on January 31.

Earlier, it was announced that the case would be taken up on a daily basis from today (Jan 22) onwards.

No authority for Special High Court to debate Gota case on misuse of funds: PC De Silva

Three witnesses in the case involving the misuse of funds in the construction of the D. A .Rajapaksa memorial museum  informed court at today's hearing that they had plans to travel overseas adding that there was a delay in receiving notice to appear before court.

The main witnesses who appeared in court today included those who had served in the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC).

Accordingly, the three-member judge bench had informed the three witnesses to produce an affidavit of their request to travel overseas.

Daily hearings on this case that was filed by the Attorney General against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and seven others commenced today (Jan 22).

Meanwhile, Romesh de Silva, President's Counsel (PC) representing Mr. Rajapaksa presented preliminary objections claiming that the Special High Court had not been vested with the powers to hear this case.

A sum of Rs 33.9 million is alleged to have been misappropriated in the construction of the said museum.

The suspects have been charged with seven counts that were in breach of the Public Property Act and the Penal Code. The complainant had also submitted 105 case objects and a forensic audit report along with several other documents corroborating his claims.

The names of 80 individuals have been named as witnesses in the case.