The Colombo High Court has rejected preliminary objections raised by former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two other defendants in a corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne ordered that the case proceed under the existing indictments.
The indictments allege that the defendants used their official influence to obtain Rs. 8.85 million in compensation for property damaged during the unrest on 9 May 2022, although the claim had been officially rejected. The property, a building and other structures at Sevanagala, was allegedly built without authorisation on land belonging to the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.
CIABOC alleges the defendants pressured officials of the Office for Reparations to secure the payment. All three are charged with corruption and with aiding and abetting the alleged offence.
With the objections dismissed, the trial will continue before the Colombo High Court.
