Ex- Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa s case fixed for trial on Jan. 27

The Colombo High Court has set January 27 as the date for the trial of former Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and seven others, according to a report from Ada Derana. They are facing charges for misusing over Rs. 6.1 million that belonged to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). This money was supposedly meant to help people affected by floods in the Bingiriya and Narammala regions in 2014, but it was allegedly used instead for presidential campaign activities in 2015. During a court session today, Judge Udesh Ranatunga of the Colombo High Court reviewed the case and ordered the trial to begin on January 27. The judge also instructed that two witnesses be summoned to appear in court on that day. The Attorney General's indictment claims that between December 26, 2014, and January 26, 2015, the accused misappropriated over Rs. 6.1 million from the CPC, falsely stating that it was for flood relief. The Attorney General has brought five charges against Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, who was the Minister of Petroleum Industries at that time, as well as his wife and six other individuals for the improper use of government funds.