The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to former minister Rajitha Senaratne, who was in remand custody over corruption allegations.
Rajitha Senaratne was released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 02 million each.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court also imposed an overseas travel ban on Rajitha Senaratne.
In early August, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant for Senaratne’s arrest after the Bribery Commission alleged that he had failed to respond to multiple summons and had avoided giving a statement over a controversial contract awarded during his tenure as minister.
The case is tied to a sand dredging project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour, which was awarded to a Korean company. The Bribery Commission maintains that the deal caused a financial loss of more than Rs. 20 million to the state.
Reporting that Senaratne remains missing, his phones switched off, and his residence found empty, the Bribery Commission alleged that he was deliberately evading arrest.
However, Rajitha Senaratne appeared before the Colombo High Court on 29th August and was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, after which he was remanded until today. (Newswire)
