By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Colombo High Court yesterday acquitted and released former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and five others from the money laundering case, without calling defence evidence.  
High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe made this order pursuant to a request made by defence to acquit them from the charges, on the basis that the prosecution evidence has failed to establish the commission of the offences against the accused in the indictment.  

The Attorney General had filed indictments against six accused for their alleged involvement in laundering money amounting to Rs.30 million through Gowers Corporate Services  (Pvt) Limited.  

In his order, the High Court judge observed that the prosecution evidence is not sufficient enough to prove the charges against the accused. The High Court Judge further maintained that prosecution evidence is not credible to prove the charges against the accused. He further observed that the Court came to this decision after evaluating evidence presented before court, without taking into account the status of the accused. 

The defence made an application from the High Court in terms of Section 200 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure requesting the Court to record a verdict of acquittal, on behalf of the accused, in view of the fact that the evidence led by the prosecution totally failed to establish the commission of the offence charged against the accused in  the indictment.  
The Attorney General had filed indictments against Namal Rajapaksa, Indika Karunajeewa, Sujani Bogollagama, Iresha Silva, Nithya Senani Samaranayake and Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited on 11 counts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for their alleged involvement in money laundering amounting to Rs.30 million in a company (Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited) owned by Namal Rajapaksa between 2013 and 2014.  

The High Court had permitted the prosecution to proceed with the trial in the absencia of second and sixth accused in the case in terms of section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code.  
It was alleged that Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited of Colombo 5, is providing coordinating services to Sri Lankan Airlines.   
The FCID had initiated investigations into this matter following a complaint by Voice Against Corruption Convener  Wasantha Samarasinghe.