January 25, 2025

Yoshitha Rajapaksa was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today in Beliatta. According to the Police Media Spokesperson, he was apprehended on the expressway while traveling to Medamulana. The arrest was made under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The Attorney General had informed the CID on the 23rd of this month that there was sufficient evidence to name Yoshitha Rajapaksa as a suspect in relation to the purchase of a house and land in the Sirimal area of Ratmalana, valued at Rs. 34 million.

The main suspect in the case currently pending in court is Daisy Forrest, a relative of Yoshitha Rajapaksa.

### **The Mihindu Mawatha Land Case**
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) filed a case at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate�s Court concerning a plot of land on Mihindu Mawatha, Dehiwala, valued at approximately Rs. 500 million. It was alleged that this land was purchased by Yoshitha Rajapaksa in the name of his relative, Daisy Forrest.

The case was filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that funds acquired through unlawful means were used for financial transactions and property purchases.

The Asian Mirror website had previously provided a detailed account of the legal evidence surrounding the case on June 13, 2016. The article shed light on the nature of the incident and highlighted that these transactions were conducted in violation of prevailing laws.

### **The Real Story**
The property in question, located on Mihindu Mawatha, Dehiwala, is a hereditary asset belonging to Shiranthi Rajapaksa. On October 12, 2015, ownership of this property was transferred to Yoshitha Rajapaksa through Deed No. 3221, certified by a well-known notary named Weeraman.

However, investigations revealed that this plot of land, which did not meet the Rajapaksa family�s expectations of size, was expanded unlawfully. To achieve this, Yoshitha Rajapaksa and other family members allegedly misused their influence to acquire adjacent properties, consolidating them with the original land.

The unlawful expansion involved acquiring 12.4 perches, 10 perches, and 2.6 perches of private land as well as 5 perches of land owned by the Dehiwala-Galkissa Cooperative Society. These acquisitions were reportedly made using coercive methods and money to amalgamate the land for their purposes.

The Asian Mirror report also detailed that Yoshitha Rajapaksa used his power and financial resources to pressure neighboring landowners into selling their properties, combining them with the original plot. This manipulation created a larger property, which was unlawfully transferred and consolidated under dubious transactions.