However his lawyers told court yesterday (07) that he has no claim to the said land. This was stated when the case against Basil Rajapaksa on charges of having misappropriated state funds to purchase the said land and construction of a house on the land, was taken up for hearing at the Pugoda Magistrates court.

According to the charges filed against the former minister, he is unable to show means of how he earned the money required to purchase the land and build a house to that expense on the land located at No. 111/3, Gangaboda Rlad, Pugoda, suggesting that he had misappropriated state funds to construct the said luxury house.

Total cost Rs. 200.3 million

The government valuation of the said land and house is Rs. 200.3 million.

A witness in this case Muditha Jayakody’s lawyers told court that his client (Rajapaksa) did not possess ownership to the said land.

Therefore, since the said land and house has no owner, the state counsel requested court to allow the property to be sold.

The Chief Magistrate of the Pugoda Magistrates Court D. A. Ruwan Pathirana said the final verdict with regard to this property will be declared on October 14.