CID instructed to request international warrant for Basil if needed

Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara today (10) informed the Criminal Investigation Department’s Illegal Assets Unit that if an international warrant is required against former Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa in connection with the alleged misuse of funds belonging to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the CID may proceed by submitting an affidavit.

The directive was issued when the magistrate’s inquiry into the case was taken up again before court today (10).

The CID’s Illegal Assets Unit had reported the matter to court over allegations that Rs. 7.8 million allocated to the Tourism Promotion Bureau in 2014 was not used for promotional activities but instead spent on purchasing 12,000 T-shirts for the Uva Provincial Council election, allegedly causing a financial loss to the state.

During proceedings, the CID requested the court to issue notice to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the first suspect in the case. However, the magistrate noted that notices were unnecessary since warrants had already been issued against him at an earlier stage.

The magistrate further instructed the CID to take necessary steps to obtain an international warrant, if required, by submitting an affidavit to court.

Meanwhile, the court today (10) ordered the remand of former Managing Director of the bureau, Rami Jauffer, who had been wanted under a warrant in connection with the case, until June 17.

The magistrate also ordered the release of the second suspect, former Chairman of the bureau, Bashwara Gunawardena, on two personal bails of Rs. 10 million each.

Investigating officers informed the court that charges against the suspects have been filed under the Public Property Act.