The decision on whether to release former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and three others following a request by defence counsel in the Divi Naguma case, will be delivered on November 30.

The Attorney General had filed indictments against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka for allegedly printing five million almanacs at a cost of Rs. 29.4 million from funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Department with the image of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be used as election propaganda material, during the January 2015 Presidential Election.

Filing submissions to the Colombo High Court, Basil Rajapaksa has stated that the case which was initiated by the Yahapalana Government in 2015 has failed to establish to date all charges raised against him in this regard.

The Defence Counsel filing submissions after the prosecution concluded the examination of evidence, requested the court to acquit and release the accused from the charges determining that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to prove the charges against their clients.

Pointing out that the program launched to provide relief to Divi Neguma beneficiaries was conducted on the approval of the Divi Neguma National Council, the former Minister said it cannot be considered a violation of the law.
He further requested the Court to therefore acquit him of all charges.

Following the request, the Colombo High court has decided to take up the case for consideration on Monday (30) and give a decision.