Former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and 6 others have been released on bail by the Special High Court over the case of the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial Museum.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Special High Court earlier this morning (09) for the hearing of the case.

The case was filed against Former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and 06 others by the Attorney General, over the alleged misappropriation of Rs 49 million to build the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial Museum.

A travel ban was also imposed upon the former Defense Secretary and the other 6 suspects.

When the case was taken up before a three-judge bench, the suspects including Rajapaksa was bailed on a cash bail bond of Rs 100,000 and two personal bails worth Rs 1 million on each suspect.

The tri- person judge bench comprising of Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijerathne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne also ordered for a fingerprint report of the suspects.

However, no lawyer representing the government was present when the case was taken up. Accordingly, defending attorney President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva requested the release of his clients based on absence of the government lawyers.

The Judge further stated that since the suspects were high-ranking high officials of the government, it is expected that they would honor bail orders and appear at courts for trial.

Reportedly, the case will be called up again on the 9th of October.