Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The almanac case filed against two accused including Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was today fixed for September 15 by Colombo High Court. The defence sought a calling date before the matter is fixed for trial. Accordingly, the case against two accused including former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa for allegedly misappropriating Rs.29.4 million of funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Department was yesterday fixed for September 15. The Attorney General had filed indictments against the former Minister and former Director-General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka in the Colombo High Court for allegedly printing 5 million almanacs with the image of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, costing Rs.29.4 million, to be used as election propaganda material, during January-2015 Presidential election. The Attorney General alleged that by printing these almanacs between 23 November and 31 December 2014, these accused had attempted to influence citizens of this country to vote for presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa. The AG maintained that the act of the accused deems him guilty of the offence of bribery by section 79 of the Presidential Election Act No 15 of 1981. The Attorney General had listed 32 people including former Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya as witnesses in the case.