Udaya Gammanpila acquitted in second Australian share fraud case
Regarding Udaya Gammanpila
What happened?
On 29 September 2026 Colombo High Court Judge Nadee Aparna Suwandurugoda acquitted and released Udaya Gammanpila of criminal breach of trust involving about Rs. 21 million, over the alleged sale of shares belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick using an allegedly forged power of attorney. The judge held the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Gammanpila said it was the second of two cases over the same share transaction; he was acquitted in the first in March 2025.
What changed?
The trial, which had reached written submissions on 18 September, ended in an acquittal at first instance. No appeal has been reported. Gammanpila is separately involved in a Court of Appeal contempt referral, which is unaffected.
What happens next?
No confirmed next step yet. No further court date has been reported and no appeal has been reported.
The case
People involved
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