Basil Rajapaksa, former Sri Lankan Minister of Economic development and younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was on Monday granted bail by the Colombo High Court in a case concerning alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Besides, three persons – former Economic Development Secretary Nihal Jayatilaka, former Director General of the Divi Neguma department R. A.A. K. Ranawaka and former Director in the department, Bandula Thilakasiri - were enlarged on bail.
The former minister was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on April 22 >for alleged misappropriation of public funds in the Divi Neguma deparment, under the Economic Development Ministry.
According to Mr. Rajapaksa’s lawyer U.R, de Silva, the High Court overturned the Kaduwela Magistrate’s order dismissing the former minister’s bail plea. All the four have been released on executing a cash bail bond of Rs. one lakh and four sureties of Rs. 10 lakh each.
