GI pipes case against Basil Postponed for August 6.

BY T. FAROOK THAJUDEEN

The Colombo High Court case filed against former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 36.5 million of funds of the Divi Neguma Department was further postponed for August 6 by High Court Judge Dhammika Ganepola yesterday. Judge Ganepola on considering a pleading of the defence ordered the Director of the CID to issue statements of the witnesses to the defence.

Judge Ganepola drew the attention of the Director of the CID to get a duplicate set of copies from the witnesses and to issue them to the accused if the originals of the statements are not available with the CID. The Attorney General had indicted former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka in the Colombo High Court for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 36.5 million belonging to the Divi Neguma Development by purchasing and distributing GI pipes during the last Presidential Election. The Attorney General maintained that the act of the accused is an offence that comes under the Presidential Election Act No. 15 of 1981. The accused were also charged for misappropriation under the Public Property Act.