The Supreme Court has granted special leave to appeal in a bribery case involving former Deputy Minister Shantha Premaratne, who was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment for soliciting and accepting a Rs. 50,000 bribe in exchange for promising employment.
Premaratne, a former United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) politician and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) organiser in the Ampara District, was convicted by the High Court in 2017.
According to the Bribery Commission, Premaratne had solicited and accepted Rs. 50,000 from a party supporter after promising to secure employment for her son-in-law at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
The Court of Appeal upheld his conviction on Nov. 5, 2024, prompting Premaratne to challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere and Gihan Kulatunga granted special leave to appeal on the question of whether the charge in the indictment had been proved during the trial.
Premaratne has maintained that the money was received as a donation towards the construction of a party headquarters and not as a bribe in exchange for employment.
He also claimed that political rivals had instigated complaints against him after he lost a party selection contest in June 2008.
The Supreme Court fixed the appeal for argument on March 29, 2027.
Attorneys Hafeel Farisz, Prashan Wickramaratne and Sanjeewa Kodithuwakku appeared for Premaratne, while Additional Director General Ruvini Wickramasinghe represented the Bribery Commission. (Newswire)
