Trial begins for Shasheendra Rajapaksa after court rejects preliminary objections

On 8 October 2026 Colombo High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne rejected the preliminary objections raised by former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and his two co-accused, and ordered the case to proceed under the existing CIABOC indictments. Not-guilty pleas were recorded, the prosecution made its opening statement and examination of evidence began.

Reports describe 10 counts, 30 listed witnesses and 38 documents, in a case over the alleged improper payment of Rs. 8.85 million in compensation for the destruction of his political office.

The case moves from a pre-trial dispute over the indictments to a trial. The ruling on the objections is procedural and is not a finding on the charges; Rajapaksa has pleaded not guilty and no conviction has been made. No next hearing date was reported.