Yoshitha Rajapaksa money laundering case hears Yasara Abeynayake’s testimony on their relationship, marriage plans and a Mount Lavinia property.
The Yoshitha Rajapaksa money laundering case heard new testimony from Yasara Abeynayake, who described their former relationship and plans to marry.
Abeynayake, the former head of CSN, testified before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga. Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was present in court.
She told court that she and Rajapaksa had planned to live in a house on Mihindu Mawatha in Mount Lavinia. The property belonged to his grandmother, Daisy Forrest.
Abeynayake also said they had discussed proposed interior decoration work with an interior designer.
Their relationship continued for about four years, from 2009 until 2013. However, she said it ended because of astrological incompatibility.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara led her evidence for the prosecution.
The Attorney General filed the case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The prosecution alleges that he illegally acquired five plots of land valued at more than Rs. 7.3 crore.
The allegations remain before court and have not resulted in a final judicial finding.
Yasara Details Relationship and Mount Lavinia House Plans
Giving evidence, Yasara Abeynayake said:
“I worked at ITN channel and later left to join CSN channel as its head. When I was working at CSN channel, Yoshitha Rajapaksa was not employed there. However, he supported my work.
“There was a romantic relationship between me and the accused Yoshitha Rajapaksa. It began around 2009. At that time, Yoshitha was serving as a Naval officer. We continued our relationship until around 2013.
“During the time we were in a relationship, we went together to see a house on Mihindu Mawatha in Mount Lavinia belonging to Yoshitha’s grandmother. We had planned to get married and live in that house. Therefore, we discussed interior decoration arrangements with an interior designer for that house.
“During the time of our relationship, a house opposite my residence was put up for sale. My uncle, Wasantha Jayasuriya, informed Yoshitha about this. I don’t know whether he purchased that land with the house.
“Although we continued our relationship from 2009 to 2013, our relationship ended around 2013 due to astrological incompatibility.”
Her testimony placed the former couple’s marriage plans and property discussions within the period examined by the prosecution.
Landowner Describes Rs. 34.54 Million Sale
Lushan Ratnayake also testified under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
He said he sold a property at Sirimal Uyana in Mount Lavinia to Daisy Forrest for Rs. 34.54 million.
Ratnayake told court that he and his wife had lived at the property. After she became ill, they decided to sell the house and move to an annex at Royal Park.
They advertised the Sirimal Uyana property for sale.
Ratnayake said:
“I told my friend Wasantha Jayasuriya that I was selling the house. He brought a buyer. He did not tell me who the buyer was. Although I had decided to sell at Rs. 10 lakhs per perch, the land was 34.5 perches.
“Later, Wasantha Jayasuriya called and told me there was someone interested in buying the land. But he still didn’t tell me who the buyer was.”
Ratnayake said the parties signed the deed at Standard Chartered Bank in Rajagiriya.
The deed identified Daisy Forrest as the buyer. He signed it after learning that the full amount had entered the Standard Chartered Bank account.
“The full sale price of Rs. 34.54 million was deposited into the bank account. I don’t know who deposited the money,” he said.
Ratnayake testified that he sold the property on October 10, 2012.
He also said Yasara Abeynayake and Yoshitha Rajapaksa visited the house before he advertised it. The visit took place during a garage sale, and both walked around and inspected the property.
Witness Says Cash Arrived in a Bag
Wasantha Jayasuriya, Abeynayake’s uncle, also gave evidence in the Yoshitha Rajapaksa money laundering case.
He said Abeynayake and Rajapaksa had exchanged rings and intended to marry.
“Yasara Abeynayake is my niece. She had exchanged rings with Yoshitha Rajapaksa with the intention of getting married. They were about to get married,” he testified.
Jayasuriya said he told Rajapaksa about the Sirimal Uyana land owned by Lushan Ratnayake. According to him, Rajapaksa expressed interest in purchasing it.
Jayasuriya then met Ratnayake and helped arrange the transaction. He confirmed that the parties signed the deed at Standard Chartered Bank in Rajagiriya.
He also described how the purchase money allegedly reached the bank.
“On the day the deed was signed, a person who appeared to be a security guard brought a bag full of cash to Standard Chartered Bank in Rajagiriya. The entire amount required for the purchase was brought in cash in that bag.”
The court will assess these accounts alongside the remaining prosecution and defence evidence before reaching any determination in the case.
