In this case Ms. Bandaranaike had informed court that her brother Anura died on March 16, 2008 at Visumpaya, Staples Street, Colombo-2 and according to media reports he had left a last will. However in view of the last will no proceedings had been commened and she said she waited for a reasonable time for any person who claimed to be an executor to commence testamentary proceedings.

In the absence of a last will, Ms. Bandaranaike has decided to commence proceedings on the basis of intestacy. She said she and her sister Chandrika Bandaranaike being the intestate heirs to Mr. Bandaranaike’s property were entitled to receive half share each in the estate of the deceased.

However later four intervening respondents filed objections to Ms. Bandaranaike’s application claiming right over late Anura Banaranaike property through a last will. In their objection four friends and close aides of late Anura Bandaranaike had said through a last will, property valued at more than Rs. 1.1 billion were awarded to them and to the Anura Bandaranaike Foundation.

The four intervening respondents are S. D. Reni Dirwin Saparamadu of Beverly Hills, California, a political supporter and close friend of Mr. Bandaranaike for nearly 22 years, W. K. Don Senarath Chandrasinghe of Kirillawela a close aide, S. A. Wasantha Samarasekara of Nawagamuwa Pelawatta, Nittambuwa, the driver and the security officer of late Bandaranaike and K. G. Ravindra Lal Perera, a member of the personal staff.

The respondents also said Mr. Bandaranaike had given a part of his property as gifts to them and his Last Will had been duly attested by Kandiah Neelakanthan Notary Public.  They also sought a Court direction requesting Kandiah Neelakanthan Notary Public to produce the said Last Will of Anura Bandaranaike in court and requested to quash Sunethra Bandaranaike’s application.

They further produced a list of over 100 witnesses including Senior Presidential Advisor and MP, Basil Rajapaksa and a group of politicians including the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksae a former Deputy Inspector General of Police, editors of several newspapers to prove their claim. Among the politicians names as witnesses were Dullas Alahapperuma, Maithreepala Sirisena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Mervin Silva.They also named attorney Scott W. Wellman in USA in the list of the witnesses to whom they alleged that Anura Bandaranaike handed over his last will in 1996.

Counsel Avindra Rodrigo with Sudesh Peter is to appear for Sunethra Bandaranaike. Counsel A. L. M. Hidayathulla, E. M. D. Upali, Hemantha Botheju and Sumedha Mahawanniarachchi with A. Nepatarachchi are to appear for the intervenimg respondents.(DM)