Namal Rajapaksa Case: Colombo Court Orders Indian Witness Summons, July 7 Trial Set

The Colombo High Court has moved forward in the high-profile case involving Namal Rajapaksa , ordering authorities to issue summons to two Indian nationals while also confirming that the trial is scheduled to begin on July 7, 2026 .

The case, which is linked to alleged misappropriation of funds from an India-supported rugby development project , is part of ongoing proceedings initiated by the Attorney General’s Department .

According to court proceedings, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the court that the two Indian nationals listed as witnesses could not be contacted. Acting on this, High Court Judge Aparna Suwandurugoda directed that summons be issued under procedures established for foreign witnesses by the Judicial Service Commission of Sri Lanka .

The allegations state that approximately 70 million Sri Lankan Rupees were allegedly misused under the pretext of promoting rugby through a project linked to an India-based company.

Recent judicial updates confirm that the pre-trial phase has been completed , and the Colombo High Court has fixed July 7, 2026 , for commencement of the trial. The decision marks a key procedural step as the case transitions from preliminary hearings to full trial proceedings.

Meanwhile, legal sources indicate that there is currently no confirmation that the summons issued to the two Indian witnesses has been served or that they have appeared before the court. Their testimony remains pending, and authorities have not yet reported any breakthrough in locating them.

The case is being closely monitored as part of a broader set of financial investigations involving members of the Rajapaksa family , which have seen multiple related proceedings scheduled around July 2026 in Sri Lanka’s lower and higher courts.

With the trial date now confirmed and witness summons underway, the next major development in the case is expected when hearings formally begin on July 7, 2026 .