– Matara Chief Magistrate Chaturanga Eranga Dissanayake has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

The Magistrate ordered the warrant after Rajapaksa failed to appear before the court in connection with an ongoing case.

The case, filed by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division, involves the purchase of a one-and-a-half-acre land plot at Brown’s Hill, Eliyakanda Road, Matara.

Counsel for Rajapaksa submitted medical reports to the court, stating that the former minister is currently abroad receiving treatment for an illness.

However, the Magistrate, noting that Rajapaksa has repeatedly failed to appear in court, ruled that a warrant be issued for his arrest.