Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama today (20) granted permission to the Bribery Commission to record a statement from former MP and former Chairman of the Housing Development Authority, Duminda Silva, on March 23. 

Silva is suspected of accepting a bribe to grant bail to Dematagoda Ruwan, a large‑scale drug trafficker arrested for earning illicit money.

Although Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva had earlier, on March 13, allowed the Bribery Commission to obtain a statement, officials were unable to proceed as Silva insisted he could not provide one without the advice of his lawyer.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate has now ordered that the statement be taken inside the prison at 10 a.m. on March 23, while affirming Silva’s right to give it in the presence of his lawyer. 

The court also directed the Bribery Commission to submit a consolidated evidence report regarding the suspect.

The order was issued during the hearing of a complaint against Mohammed Mohideen Sapras Nawas, who is remanded on suspicion of accepting a Rs. 500,000 bribe to secure bail for ‘Dematagoda Ruwan’.

After producing Sapras before the court, the Bribery Commission submitted a further investigation report. 

Considering the facts, the Additional Magistrate permitted the Commission to record Duminda Silva’s statement and ordered that Sapras remain in remand custody until March 31. (Newswire)

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Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara today warned certain media to refrain from using media freedom as a tool to achieve their personal agendas. 

Addressing the Parliament today, the Justice Minister said that it has been observed that certain media were abusing their media freedom by spreading false information.

Minister Harshana Nanayakkara referred to the media outlet owned by the brother of former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, who remains in remand custody. 

“No matter what you say, your brother will not receive a Presidential Pardon. You will not be able to receive a Presidential Pardon by spreading false information against us or individuals through your media,” he said. 

The Justice Minister also revealed that the former Parliamentarian had remained in the prison hospital for over 1 and ½ years without any illness.

“We were firm that there should be equal treatment for all prisoners. Ultimately, a 14-member committee of doctors appointed by the Health Ministry found that the former Parliamentarian did not have any illness. He was then returned to the prison cell,” the minister briefed Parliament. 

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara further said that those found to be abusing media freedom will be strictly dealt with through legal means. (Newswire)

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Former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, who was moved to the Prison Hospital following his brief admission to the Colombo National Hospital due to a sudden illness last week, has now been transferred to a general cell at the Welikada Prison. 

The Daily News reported that following an examination by a specialist doctor at the prison hospital yesterday, Duminda Silva was instructed to be moved back to the prison cell. 

According to the Prisons Department, therefore, he was transferred to K-1, a general cell of the Welikada Prison. 

Duminda Silva was initially admitted to the general ward of the Welikada Prison on Friday (Jan 10) due to a sudden medical condition and was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital the following day (Jan 11).

He was discharged on Sunday (Jan 12) and brought back to the Prison Hospital after doctors had advised Duminda Silva to continue his treatment at the Prison Hospital until 15th January, when they would visit him for further checkups. 

The Colombo High Court imprisoned Duminda Silva for life in 2016, over the murder of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

Silva, who served as the Supervisory MP under the Ministry of Defence during the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, was initially held under remand custody but spent a significant portion of that time in a private hospital in Colombo.

Following his conviction and the imposition of the death sentence, he was accommodated in prison hospitals and later in a comfortable ward at the Jayawardenapura Hospital and Prison Hospital. 

This arrangement sparked public criticism, with activists alleging preferential treatment and VIP facilities afforded to the former MP.  (Newswire)

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Former Member of Parliament Duminda Silva, who was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital on Saturday (Jan 11), has been discharged and moved to the Prison Hospital.

Duminda Silva was initially admitted to the general ward of the Welikada Prison on Friday (Jan 10) due to a sudden medical condition and was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital the following day.

Prison Media Spokesman Gamini Dissanayake told Newswire, that, however, Duminda Silva was discharged yesterday after which he was brought back to the Prison Hospital.

He said the doctors had advised Duminda Silva to continue his treatment at the Prison Hospital until 15th January, and that the doctors would visit him there for further checkups. 

The Colombo High Court imprisoned Duminda Silva for life in 2016, over the murder of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

Silva, who served as the Supervisory MP under the Ministry of Defence during the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, was initially held under remand custody but spent a significant portion of that time in a private hospital in Colombo.

Following his conviction and the imposition of the death sentence, he was accommodated in prison hospitals and later in a comfortable ward at the Jayawardenapura Hospital and Prison Hospital. 

This arrangement sparked public criticism, with activists alleging preferential treatment and VIP facilities afforded to the former MP.  (NewsWire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today (Jan 17) quashed the special Presidential Pardon granted to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva.

The court also directed the Commissioner of Prisons to implement the conviction and sentence against Duminda Silva.

The decision was announced when the judgment in the Fundamental Rights cases filed against Duminda Silva’s Presidential Pardon was delivered today.

The relevant petitions were filed by Sumana and Hirunika Premachandra, the wife and daughter of the late MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, and Ghazali Hussain, former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).

The Colombo High Court imprisoned Silva for life in 2016, over the murder of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

The Presidential Commission appointed to investigate incidents of political victimization had recommended the release of Silva after which former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had granted a special Presidential Pardon in June 2021.

Following his release, former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva was appointed as the Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority.

However, the former MP was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in May 2022 while receiving treatment at the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital, after the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with the case against him.

Duminda Silva was arrested by the CID as the Supreme Court had suspended the special Presidential Pardon granted to him.

The court ruled that the former President had failed to follow proper legal procedures in granting the special Presidential Pardon. (NewsWire)

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