The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court granted bail to former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, in connection with a corruption-related investigation yesterday, on medical grounds and a lack of evidence by the Bribery Commission, it was reported.
The Bribery Commission arrested Prasanna Ranatunga for causing a loss of over Rs. 04 million to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation during his tenure as Minister of Tourism and Aviation in 2021.
It is reported that during a bail hearing, his counsel had informed the court that Ranatunga’s life could be at risk if he were unable to consume regular meals.
The suspect’s counsel informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that the individual had undergone surgery and was unable to consume regular meals.
It was stated that he requires small portions of food every four hours, supplemented with special protein mixtures, failing which he could go into a coma and his life could be at risk.
The counsel requested the court to consider these medical conditions when deciding on bail.
In response, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama noted, “At this stage, the court is not evaluating the merits of the case, but rather the bail application. Under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, the alleged offence is one for which bail may be granted by this court.”
He further observed that although the Bribery Commission had verbally claimed the suspect attempted to influence witnesses, no such details were included in the formal report, nor had statements been obtained from the relevant witnesses.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate further said that, additionally, there was no evidence indicating that the suspect had interfered with witnesses since the investigation began in 2022.
As such, Prasanna Ranatunga was released on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 and two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each, while the court also imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country. (Newswire)