UPDATE: 97-Year-Old Daisy Achchi Freed on Bail; Close Relatives Asked To Place Sureties

COLOMBO (News 1st); Daisy Forrest Wickramasinghe, who was arrested under the Money Laundering Act, has been released on bail by the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court. The court ordered her release on three sureties of Rs 5 million each.

Daisy Forrest Wickramasinghe was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and presented before Magistrate Chanima Wijebandara. 

Daisy Forrest was arrested in connection with a money laundering investigation involving the Carlton Sports Network Private Limited. The investigation revealed her involvement in a joint account holding approximately Rs 59 million, the origins of which could not be explained.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) initiated the investigation in 2016 against the Carlton Sports Network, chaired by Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The investigation uncovered the joint account maintained by Wickramasinghe, who is Rajapaksa's grandmother.

Wickramasinghe, aged 97, was summoned to the CID this morning to provide a statement. 

Following her statement, she was arrested and presented before the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court this afternoon.

CID officers informed Magistrate Chanima Wijebandara that Wickramasinghe was arrested for her involvement in maintaining the joint account with unexplained funds. 

Charges have been filed against her under Section 3/1 of the Money Laundering Act.

President's Counsel Sampath Mendis, representing Wickramasinghe, questioned the CID's opposition to granting bail.

The CID officers stated they had no objections to her release on bail.


The President's Counsel, representing the suspect, made the following statement in court:

Translation Of Quote:

"This investigation was first reported in April 2015. Subsequently, in 2017, the investigation file was submitted for the Attorney General's advice. My client, who is now 97 years old, gave her initial statement related to this investigation ten years ago. Currently, her memory is not in good condition. She cannot recall details beyond her own name and may not even remember what she had for breakfast this morning. It is under these circumstances that she is being questioned about a financial transaction that took place in 2013."

End of Translated Quote.

Based on these submissions, Magistrate Wijebandara ordered Wickramasinghe's release on three sureties of Rs 5 million each, with the condition that the sureties be close relatives. 

The case is scheduled to be called again on July 3.

Former MP and lawyer Premnath C. Dolawatta commented outside the court, alleging that the government is using political motives to carry out vendettas through the police and judiciary.