The Matara Magistrate's Court has ordered the forfeiture of bail money posted by former minister Basil Rajapaksa after he failed to appear multiple times in proceedings related to an alleged illicit property purchase.
The Matara Chief Magistrate's Court took action against former minister Basil Rajapaksa on Tuesday, ordering that bail money he had deposited be forfeited due to his continued absence from court hearings. The case, brought by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division, centers on allegations that a 1.5-acre property in the Brownhill area of Eliyakanda Road, Matara, was purchased using funds obtained through illegal means.
Rajapaksa, identified as the third accused in the matter, has not appeared in court on multiple occasions without providing medical documentation that the magistrate deemed acceptable as justification. Chief Magistrate Chathura Dissanayake presided over the proceedings on Tuesday, when the first and second accused were present.
In addition to forfeiting the bail money, the court imposed financial penalties on the three individuals who had agreed to act as sureties for Rajapaksa's bail arrangement. Those individuals face imprisonment if they fail to pay the imposed fines. An arrest warrant that had previously been issued against Rajapaksa has been extended through October 27, 2026. The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division represented the prosecution, while a legal team including President's Counsel Anil de Silva appeared for the defense.
