A two‑judge bench of the Court of Appeal today issued formal notice on the Attorney General and secured an undertaking that the money laundering trial against Yoshitha Rajapaksa will not proceed until the appeal is fully determined.
Rajapaksa challenged a High Court order that allowed the prosecution to continue a conspiracy case against him despite the Attorney General discharging his 98‑year‑old grand aunt, Daisy Forrest, as unfit to stand trial.
Counsel argued that continuing proceedings against Rajapaksa while discharging Forrest amounted to a violation of the law and risked a grave miscarriage of justice.
The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Amal Ranaraja, noted that there was an issue requiring examination.
Following this, the Attorney General informed the court that the trial would be paused until the appeal is heard in full.
Counsel Hafeel Farisz, with NK Ashokbaran, Sanjeewa Kodithuwakku, Shannon Tillekeratne, and Ashwin Pragash instructed by Sanduni Rathnayake, appeared for Rajapaksa.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, with Oswil Gomis and Tharaka Kodagoda, represented the Attorney General.
The matter is scheduled to be taken up on June 16, 2026. (Newswire)