The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to Rakitha Rajapakshe, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe; Charith Abeysinghe, former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Horana organizer; and Aruna Sri Chathuranga, former Airport and Aviation Services director, in connection with the alleged Rs. 120 million bribery scheme linked to underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias ‘Harak Kata’.
The trio had been remanded since their arrest on June 25, accused of soliciting and receiving payments from Harak Kata’s wife, Madushika Madhuwanthi, to secure his transfer out of Boossa High Security Prison.
According to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the alleged scheme began in 2023 when Madhuwanthi was approached in Dubai with a demand of Rs. 500 million to remove Harak Kata’s detention order and facilitate his transfer. The demand was later reduced to Rs. 200 million, with Rs. 120 million allegedly paid as an advance.
Earlier this month, Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama had ordered the suspects to remain in custody until July 28, noting that bail applications would be considered on that date. (Newswire)