The Court of Appeal has granted permission to proceed with a revision petition filed by Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in relation to a money laundering case currently before the courts.
The petition seeks to overturn a previous ruling issued by the Colombo High Court, which held that a conspiracy charge filed against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act could legally proceed.
The decision to allow the petition to move forward was made after the Court of Appeal conducted a detailed examination of the facts and legal submissions presented by the petitioner during proceedings held on Tuesday.
Following its review, the Court of Appeal fixed June 16 as the date for further consideration of the revision application.
The case is linked to legal proceedings initiated under Sri Lanka’s anti-money laundering laws, which are designed to investigate and prosecute financial crimes involving the concealment or movement of unlawfully obtained assets.
Legal experts note that a revision petition is a mechanism through which higher courts can review the legality or correctness of decisions made by lower courts. In this instance, the petition challenges the High Court’s determination that the conspiracy-related charge against Yoshitha Rajapaksa can be maintained and proceeded with under existing law.
The Court of Appeal’s decision does not determine the outcome of the case but allows the legal arguments raised by the petitioner to be examined in greater detail before a final determination is made.
The matter has attracted public attention due to its connection to a prominent political family and its broader implications for the enforcement of financial crime legislation in Sri Lanka.
Further proceedings are expected when the case is taken up before the Court of Appeal on June 16.
