Special High Court turns down request for acquittal in Gamini Senarath case

A request made by the defence in the case filed against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief of Staff Gamini Sedara Senarath and three others that they be acquitted from the case without calling defence evidence, was dissmissed by the Special High Court today (Mar 27).

During hearing the third suspect, Neel Bandara was acquitted from the case since sufficient evidence was not submitted before court to prove the charges against him. 

Further, the three-member judge bench of Jutices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratne ordered that the travel ban imposed on the suspect also be lifted completely.

During today's hearing, the judge bench announced that the recording of witness statements from the accused will take place on May 06. 

Previously, the attorney on behalf of the suspects had sought an acquittal for his clients by claiming that it was not necessary to record witness statements from the accused since the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the suspects.

A case was filed against the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's chief-of-staff Gamini Senarath, former Executive Director of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) Piyadasa Kudabalage, Director General of the Samurdhi Development Department Neil Bandara Hapuhinna for misappropriating funds amounting to Rs 500 million belonging to Litro Gas Lanka.