Basil Rajapaksa faces fresh legal pressure as former tourism chief Bashwara Gunaratne agrees to become a state witness.
Basil Rajapaksa is facing a major legal setback after Bashwara Gunaratne, former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, agreed to give evidence as a state witness in a case involving alleged misuse of public funds.
Gunaratne served as SLTPB Chairman during the administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and was considered a close associate of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
He was arrested and remanded over allegations that Rs. 7.8 million belonging to the Tourism Promotion Bureau had been misappropriated in 2014.
When the case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Prasanna Amarasena, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, appearing for Gunaratne, informed court that his client had given a confidential statement to the Magistrate under Section 127 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Accordingly, the President’s Counsel requested that Gunaratne be named as a state witness in the case and released on bail.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department informed court that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa would also be named as a suspect in connection with the incident.
Magistrate Prasanna Amarasena then issued a warrant for the arrest of Basil Rajapaksa, who is currently overseas.
The Magistrate also ordered the CID to submit an affidavit if a court order is required to issue an international notice against Basil Rajapaksa.
Gunaratne was later released on a surety bail of Rs. 100,000 and two personal bails of Rs. 10 million each.
However, the court ordered that the third suspect in the case, former Managing Director of the Tourism Promotion Bureau Roomy Jaufer, be further remanded until June 17.
The case is based on allegations linked to the printing of T-shirts targeting the Uva Provincial Council election and their alleged use for election campaigning.
