Indictments Filed Against Yoshitha Rajapaksa Under Money Laundering Act
Colombo – The Attorney General has filed indictments in the Colombo High Court against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his grandmother Daisy Forrest Wickremesinghe under the Money Laundering Act.
The charges relate to the failure to disclose the sources of funds used to acquire lands and properties valued at over Rs. 8 billion in the Sirimalwatta Uyana, Ratmalana, and Dehiwala areas between 2012 and 2015. The Attorney General asserts that both individuals committed an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by failing to provide sufficient explanations regarding their financial transactions.
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who was recently arrested in connection with this case, was granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Meanwhile, on February 11, the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court imposed an overseas travel ban on Daisy Forrest Wickremesinghe, also known as ‘Daisy Achchi,’ as part of the ongoing money laundering investigation.
According to Sri Lanka Police, under the Attorney General’s directive, Daisy Forrest Wickremesinghe has been named a suspect in the case, particularly concerning a Rs. 59 million joint account held with Yoshitha Rajapaksa. Authorities state that Rajapaksa failed to provide a reasonable explanation for the sources of these funds. The police have assured that all individuals involved will be prosecuted under the Money Laundering Act.
Additional Investigations Against Rajapaksa Family Members
In a separate development, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an inquiry into allegations that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa unlawfully sat for the Sri Lanka Law College examination.
The complaint, lodged by the organization ‘The Purawesi Balaya (Citizen’s Power) Against Bribery, Corruption, and Waste,’ alleges that MP Rajapaksa obtained his law degree with assistance from two attorneys. The organization has called for a formal investigation and appropriate legal action.
Following the complaint, the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) instructed the CID Director to conduct a comprehensive investigation in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure Act. Police have confirmed that an inquiry into these allegations is currently underway.
The ongoing legal proceedings and investigations highlight intensified scrutiny into the financial and legal dealings of members of the Rajapaksa family, signaling the government’s efforts to uphold financial accountability and legal integrity.
