The Colombo High Court has fixed for July 16 the hearing of a money laundering case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his grand‑aunt Daisy Forrest.

The case was taken up before High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli today (10).

The accused Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest had appeared for the court proceedings. (Newswire)

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A two‑judge bench of the Court of Appeal today issued formal notice on the Attorney General, and the Attorney General informed the court that they would not prosecute the money laundering trial against Yoshitha Rajapaksa until the matter before the Court of 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)

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The Colombo High Court has ordered that the case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his grand‑aunt Daisy Forrest Wickramasinghe be recalled on June 10.

The case was taken up today (24) before High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.

According to reports, at the hearing, the state counsel informed the court that another related case had been filed before High Court No. 08 concerning the same charges.

The state counsel further stated that a revised indictment has been ordered to be filed in that case, and accordingly, a revised indictment will also have to be filed in this case. The state counsel requested that the court grant a date to report on the progress of those proceedings.

Accordingly, the High Court Judge ordered the case to be recalled on June 10, directing that the progress of those proceedings be reported on that date.

The case relates to three indictments filed by the Attorney General, alleging that between March 31, 2009 and December 12, 2013, the accused committed an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by depositing in three private banks a sum exceeding Rs. 59 million, the source of which could not be explained. (Newswire)

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Daisy Forrest, the grand-aunt of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, arrived before the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer today for an examination of her mental condition to stand trial.

She reported for the examination after the Attorney General yesterday informed the Colombo High Court that she would appear before the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer today. 

The court was informed in this regard when the case filed against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli. (Newswire)

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The Attorney General has informed the Colombo High Court that Daisy Forrest, the grand-aunt of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is scheduled to be examined tomorrow (11) by the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer to determine whether she is in a suitable mental condition to stand trial.

This announcement was made by Deputy Solicitor General Oswald Perera when the case filed against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.

The case was called today to consider the proposed admissions.

However, Deputy Solicitor General Oswald Perera informed the Court that another case connected to this matter is being heard before High Court No. 8 against the accused.

During the hearing of that case, Daisy Forrest’s counsel had informed the Court that she was not in a suitable mental state to face trial, the Deputy Solicitor General stated.

Deputy Solicitor General Oswald Perera said accordingly, to determine whether the accused is in a suitable mental condition to face trial, the Court ordered a specialist medical report from the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer.

He further stated that, under this Court order, the accused is scheduled to appear tomorrow for the relevant examination.

The Deputy Solicitor General also informed the Court that once the medical report is submitted, the issue of whether the accused is in a suitable mental condition to stand trial will be considered.

Therefore, he requested the Court to postpone the case until the medical report is received.

After considering the submissions, the Judge ordered that the case be recalled on February 9.

The Attorney General has filed this case against Daisy Forrest and Yoshitha Rajapaksa, alleging that between March 31, 2009 and December 12, 2013, they committed an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by depositing more than Rs. 59 million of unlawfully earned money into three fixed deposit accounts. (Newswire)

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The Attorney General has filed indictments against Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his grand-aunt Daisy Forrest Wickramasinghe before the Colombo High Court.

The indictments have been filed under the Money Laundering Act, related to a Rs. 59 million joint account belonging to the duo. 

Previously, the Police had filed charges against both under the Money Laundering Act after investigations since 2016 found Rajapaksa was unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the funds.

According to the investigation, the funds in question were placed in fixed deposits and bank accounts, including a joint account maintained with Daisy Forrest.

The Attorney General then directed the Police to name Forrest as a suspect in the case. 

As a result, both Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Forrest were formally named as suspects in the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court last Sunday (Feb 11), with charges filed under the Money Laundering Act. (Newswire)

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