According to media reports, the order was issued after President’s Counsel Anil Silva, appearing on behalf of Rajapaksa, informed the court that she had suffered a sudden heart attack while in prison on October 12 and was subsequently admitted to the hospital’s cardiac surgery unit.
The lawyer further told the court that Rajapaksa was undergoing open-heart surgery when the case was taken up.
However, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing for the prosecution, informed the court that although Rajapaksa had been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, prison authorities had not received confirmation that she was undergoing surgery.
Following the conflicting submissions, the Chief Magistrate instructed prison officials to ascertain immediately whether Rajapaksa was undergoing open-heart surgery and report their findings to the court.
The Magistrate observed that the report submitted by prison authorities only confirmed Rajapaksa’s admission to Ward 61 of the Colombo National Hospital, without providing details of her medical condition or any surgical procedure.
Rajapaksa was not produced before the court when the case was taken up today.
The case concerns alleged financial irregularities involving the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ account, in connection with which Rajapaksa was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The court subsequently postponed proceedings until 2.00 p.m. today, pending the submission of a report from prison authorities verifying her medical condition and the claims regarding surgery.
As of the latest reports, there has been no official confirmation that Rajapaksa is undergoing open-heart surgery.
