The Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar has rejected bail applications submitted by former minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Lanka Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, who were sentenced to prison in connection with the Carrom Board case.
The bail requests were filed on the grounds that both individuals had appealed their convictions, but the court ruled that the reasons presented were not sufficiently exceptional to warrant release pending appeal.
The decision was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya, and P.M.T. Bandara yesterday (07).
In its ruling, the bench emphasized that when a convicted individual seeks bail during the appeal process, the court must be presented with compelling and exceptional circumstances. Since the applicants failed to meet this threshold, their bail requests were denied.
The case stems from allegations that, during the 2015 presidential election, 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 draughts boards were imported through Lanka Sathosa and distributed to political offices of then-presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa, causing an estimated loss of Rs. 53 million to the state.
Following a lengthy trial, the court found both individuals guilty. Mahindananda Aluthgamage was sentenced to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment, while Nalin Fernando received 25 years’ rigorous imprisonment.
Both parties have filed appeals with the Supreme Court and have requested bail pending a final decision, a request now formally denied. (Newswire)