The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to former state minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, who was arrested and remanded in connection with the case filed on corruption and the misuse of a property belonging to the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.
He has been released on two sureties of Rs. 02 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 50,000. The court has also imposed an overseas travel ban on Shasheendra Rajapaksa.
The former state minister was arrested in August this year over allegations of illegally constructing a farm building on land belonging to the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, located near the Kiriibbanwewa reservoir in Sevanagala.
Following the destruction of this building during the ‘Aragalaya’ protests in May 2022, it was confirmed that the land belonged to the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.
Despite this, Rajapaksa is alleged to have pressured relevant officials, misusing his authority, to secure approval for the reconstruction of the building.
Stating that these actions constitute charges of corruption, conspiracy, and illegal occupation of state property, the Bribery Commission arrested him on charges of offences related to the misuse of state property. (Newswire)
