The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court today granted bail to former minister S.M. Chandrasena, who was previously arrested and remanded over corruption charges.
The court released him on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 05 million each.
The court, which imposed an overseas travel ban on the suspect, also ordered that his passport be surrendered to the court.
The court then ordered that the case be called up on the 9th of January, 2026.
On 04 July, former minister S.M. Chandrasena was arrested after having recorded a statement with the Bribery Commission.
He was arrested in connection with causing a loss to the government by distributing maize seeds to his political associates to gain an advantage in the 2015 Presidential Election.
At the time of his arrest, the Bribery Commission said he was accused of having distributed maize seeds, imported in 2014 for Rs. 25 million, to be provided at a concessional price to poor and needy farmers in the Anuradhapura District.
S.M. Chandrasena is accused of having intimidated officials at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat, including its Planning Director, to distribute the maize seeds to his political associates. (Newswire)