The Court of Appeal has rejected revision applications filed by three individuals, including former Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando, and ordered that the High Court cases against them continue.

The allegations concern the misuse of employees of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) for non‑official duties, with salaries and overtime allowances paid from CWE funds, causing losses of nearly Rs. 60 million to the Government.

Indictments were filed in 2022 before the Colombo High Court against Fernando, former CWE Chairman Eraj Fernando, and Acting Director Mohideen Mohamed Zakeer, under Section 70 of the Bribery Act.

The five‑judge bench, comprising Justice P. Kumaratnam, Justice D. Thotawatta, Justice K.M.S. Disanayake, Justice K.P.E. Fernando, and Justice Annalingam Premashankar, delivered its ruling on Tuesday (04). 

The accused had challenged the indictments on grounds including claims that investigations were initiated without full Commission approval, and that the Bribery (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 2018 was being applied retrospectively to acts said to have occurred before its enactment.

In one case (HC/165/2022), the High Court had accepted preliminary objections and released the accused, prompting the Commission to file a revision application 14/77/2023. In other cases, objections were rejected, leading the accused to file multiple revision applications. 

After considering all applications together, the Court of Appeal allowed the Commission’s revision application, set aside the High Court order releasing the accused in HC/165/2022, and rejected all revision applications filed by the accused, directing that the High Court trials proceed. (Newswire)

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A luxury hotel reportedly owned by former Minister Johnston Fernando at Slave Island was searched by the Panadura Walana Anti‑Corruption Strike Force, but police confirmed that no suspicious items were discovered, it was reported.

The operation was carried out under a warrant issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court following information alleging that firearms were hidden inside the premises.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Rohan Olugala and Officer‑in‑Charge Chief Inspector Indika Weerasinghe led the raid, supported by 55 officers including female personnel from the Panadura Walana Central Anti‑Corruption Strike Force.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the search lasted nearly four hours across the four‑storey hotel, but police said no firearms or other suspicious material were recovered. A statement was subsequently recorded from the hotel’s manager. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando has arrived at the Illegal Assets Investigation Division.

It is reported that he has arrived to record a statement in connection with an investigation related to former local government member Sampath Manamperi.

Manamperi was initially arrested in September last year over allegations of concealing two containers of raw materials suspected to be used in the production of the drug crystal methamphetamine (‘ICE’) and possession of weapons, in Middeniya, reportedly belonging to underworld figure Kehelbaddara Padme. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando was granted bail by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, after being in remand custody for four months in connection with the case linked to the misuse of a Lanka Sathosa lorry.

When the case was taken up for hearing today (24), the court ordered Johnston Fernando to be released on four sureties of Rs. 500,000 each.

The court further ordered that the case will be recalled on July 10. 

Johnston Fernando, his elder son Johan Fernando, his younger son Jerome Fernando, and a former transport manager of Lanka Sathosa, were arrested and remanded in connection with an investigation by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) regarding the misuse of a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa. 

It was alleged that the vehicle was used for operations linked to an ethanol company reportedly owned by Fernando, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs. 2.5 million to the state. (Newswire)

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Four suspects, including the two sons of former Minister Johnston Fernando, who were remanded over the misuse of a Lanka Sathosa lorry, have been released on bail by the Negombo High Court.

The other suspects released on bail today (31) are the former Working Director and the former Transport Manager of Lanka Sathosa. 

Johnston Fernando, his elder son Johan Fernando, his younger son Jerome Fernando, and the other two former state officials were arrested and remanded in connection with an investigation conducted by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) regarding the misuse of a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa. 

It was alleged that the vehicle was used for operations linked to an ethanol company reportedly owned by Fernando, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs. 2.5 million to the state. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando, along with his two sons and three other suspects, has been ordered to be further remanded by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court.

The Additional Magistrate of Wattala today (20) ordered that the suspects be remanded until April 2.

Johnston Fernando, his elder son Johan Fernando, his younger son Jerome Fernando, and a former transport manager of Lanka Sathosa, were arrested and remanded in connection with an investigation conducted by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) regarding the misuse of a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa. 

It was alleged that the vehicle was used for operations linked to an ethanol company reportedly owned by Fernando, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs. 2.5 million to the state. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando has been further remanded until March 6, along with his two sons and another suspect, in the case related to misusing a Sathosa lorry.

In addition, another suspect arrested in connection with the same charges has been ordered to remain in remand custody until the 27th.

The order was issued after the suspects were produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court today (20).

It is alleged that the vehicle was used for operations linked to an ethanol company reportedly owned by Fernando, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs. 2.5 million to the state.

Fernando was arrested on January 5. The investigation also led to the December 30 arrest of Fernando’s son, Johan Fernando, in Kurunegala.

Former Sathosa Transport Manager Indika Ratnamalala was also taken into custody, accused of preparing forged documents related to the case. (Newswire)

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Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), have been further remanded until 20 February by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court.

The group was arrested by the FCID over allegations of misusing a Sathosa lorry during Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade.

It is alleged that the vehicle was used for operations linked to an ethanol company reportedly owned by Fernando, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs. 2.5 million to the state.

Fernando was arrested in January, and a bail request was denied, with the suspects ordered to remain in remand custody.

The investigation also led to the December 30 arrest of Fernando’s son, Johan Fernando, in Kurunegala. Former Sathosa Transport Manager Indika Ratnamalala was also taken into custody, accused of preparing forged documents related to the case. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando, his two sons have been further remanded until February 13 by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court.

Two other suspects were also ordered to be further remanded.

The group was arrested by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) over allegations of misusing a Sathosa lorry during Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade.

It is alleged that the vehicle was used for operations linked to an ethanol company reportedly owned by Fernando, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs. 2.5 million to the state.

Fernando was arrested on January 5. Earlier, on January 9, a bail request was denied, and the suspects were ordered to remain in remand custody.

The investigation also led to the December 30 arrest of Fernando’s son, Johan Fernando, in Kurunegala. Former Sathosa Transport Manager Indika Ratnamalala was also taken into custody, accused of preparing forged documents related to the case. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando and four other suspects who were previously remanded have once again been ordered to remain in remand custody by the court.

This order was issued when the case against the suspects was taken up today (23 Jan).

Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered that the suspects, including the former minister’s two sons, be remanded until January 30. 

Fernando was arrested on January 5 by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division and produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court in connection with a case filed over the misuse of a Sathosa lorry during his tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade.

At that time, the Wattala Magistrate’s Court ordered that Fernando and the other suspects be remanded. (Newswire)

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The Wattala Magistrate’s Court has ordered that former Minister Johnston Fernando, his two sons, and three other suspects arrested by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division related to investigations into the misuse of a Sathosa lorry, be remanded until January 23.

It is reported that lawyers appearing for Johnston Fernando requested that he be released on bail, but the Magistrate rejected the request and ordered the suspects to be remanded.

The Magistrate also rejected a request made by the suspects’ side to be discharged from the charges.

It is alleged that during his tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade, Johnston Fernando used a Sathosa lorry for the operations of an ethanol company said to belong to him, causing a loss of Rs. 2.5 million to the government. 

Based on this allegation, the Attorney General instructed the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division to arrest the former minister and his son, Johan Fernando.

Accordingly, on December 30, Johan Fernando was arrested in Kurunegala, along with former Sathosa Transport Manager Indika Ratnamalala, who was taken into custody over allegations of preparing forged documents related to the incident. 

After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, they were remanded until January 9. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando and his youngest son, Gerome Kenneth Fernando, who were arrested over the alleged misuse of a Lanka Sathosa vehicle, have been remanded. 

Johnston Fernando and his youngest son were remanded until January 9 by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court today. 

The father-son duo were arrested after reporting to the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) this morning, in connection with investigations into the alleged misuse of a Lanka Sathosa lorry.

Johnston Fernando had been notified to appear before the FCID today after the Police had launched a probe to arrest him in connection with an incident where a Lanka Sathosa lorry was allegedly misused, causing a financial loss to the state.

Indika Ratnamalala, who served as Transport Manager at Lanka Sathosa during Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade, was arrested and remanded yesterday, in relation to the same incident.

He was remanded on charges of preparing forged documents to allow a Sathosa lorry to be used by an ethanol company owned by the former minister, for the benefit of his eldest son. 

Johan Fernando, the eldest son of former minister Johnston Fernando, was arrested and remanded last week over the same incident. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando’s youngest son, Gerome Kenneth Fernando, has been arrested in connection with a probe launched into the misuse of a lorry belonging to the state-owned supermarket chain, ‘Lanka Sathosa’.

The investigation is linked to the incident that occurred during the tenure of Johnston Fernando as the Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade.

Fernando’s eldest son, Johan Fernando, was arrested and remanded last week over the use of the Sathosa lorry by an ethanol company owned by the former Minister.

Indika Ratnamalala, who served as Transport Manager at Lanka Sathosa during Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade, was arrested and remanded yesterday, in relation to the same incident. 

He was remanded on charges of preparing forged documents to allow the Sathosa lorry to be used by the former minister’s ethanol company, for the benefit of his son, Johan Fernando.

Johnston Fernando and his youngest son, Gerome Kenneth Fernando, were notified to appear before the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) today in connection with the investigation into the incident. 

Having appeared before the FCID and recording statements, the father-son duo were arrested. (Newswire)

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Johnston Fernando had been notified to appear before the FCID today after the Police had launched a probe to arrest him in connection with an incident where a Lanka Sathosa lorry was allegedly misused, causing a financial loss to the state.

Indika Ratnamalala, who served as Transport Manager at Lanka Sathosa during Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade, was arrested and remanded yesterday, in relation to the same incident.

He was remanded on charges of preparing forged documents to allow a Sathosa lorry to be used by an ethanol company owned by the former Minister, for the benefit of his son, Johan Fernando. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando has arrived at the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) in connection with investigations into the alleged misuse of a Lanka Sathosa lorry. 

Johnston Fernando had been notified to appear before the FCID today after the Police had launched a probe to arrest him in connection with an incident where a Lanka Sathosa lorry was allegedly misused, causing a financial loss to the state.

Indika Ratnamalala, who served as Transport Manager at Lanka Sathosa during Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade, was arrested yesterday (04) in relation to the same incident. 

He was remanded until January 09 after being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court.

He was remanded on charges of preparing forged documents to allow a Sathosa lorry to be used by an ethanol company owned by the former Minister, for the benefit of his son, Johan Fernando. (Newswire)

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Ten individuals, including former Colombo municipal councillor Mohamed Anas,  have been sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment each, suspended for 10 to 15 years, for damaging the properties of former minister Johnston Fernando following the attack on the Galle Face “Gota Go Gama” protest site on May 9, 2022.

Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne yesterday (09) sentenced the accused after they had pleaded guilty to charges of having damaged the former minister’s tourist hotel located in Union Place, Colombo, and vandalising two parked vehicles. 

Nine of the accused were each fined Rs. 65,000, while one individual involved in stealing a laptop from the hotel was fined Rs. 80,000.

During the hearing, lawyers representing the accused informed the court that their clients were prepared to plead guilty from the beginning and were willing to pay Rs. 100,000 each in compensation for the damages caused.

The state counsel indicated that if the aggrieved party accepted the proposed compensation, the prosecution would not object to concluding the case.

Representing former minister Johnston Fernando, lawyer Niroshan Siriwardena informed the court that on the day of the incident, the accused broke into the hotel, attempted to set it ablaze using petrol, and were stopped only due to the intervention of foreign tourists. 

He also noted that the accused attempted to set fire to a room where his client’s daughter was staying, and that she was rescued through the roof. The total loss suffered was estimated at around Rs. 9 million, he added.

However, Siriwardena stated that his client did not wish to accept any compensation from the accused, and did not expect any financial recovery since they had already admitted guilt.

As such, each accused was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment, suspended for a period of 10 to 15 years. The judge also ordered the case to be recalled on August 28 to verify the payment of fines. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has launched an investigation into a doctor accused of issuing a fraudulent medical certificate in a court case involving former Minister Johnston Fernando.

The Colombo High Court was informed yesterday (23) that the certificate, which claimed the defendant was unwell, was issued using a forged letterhead of a well-known private hospital. 

Representing the SLMC, the legal officer said the doctor in question, Ruwan Pathirana (SLMC Registration No. 25363), is not employed at the hospital named in the certificate.

The SLMC had received a formal complaint from the hospital director over the misuse of its letterhead. Following a directive issued by the court on March 26, the SLMC has referred the matter to its Preliminary Inquiry Committee, as the complaint was submitted with an affidavit.

The court accepted the SLMC’s statement and ordered that its committee submit its findings, including whether the doctor’s actions constituted professional misconduct and what disciplinary measures, if any, would be taken.

The case is part of an ongoing trial involving Johnston Fernando at the Colombo High Court. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando, who first entered Parliament in 2000 and served for over two decades, is left without a Parliamentary seat for the first time in 24 years.

As per the final results of the Kurunegala District, the National People’s Power (NPP) dominated by securing over 650,000 votes.

Meanwhile, Johnston Fernando’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) only managed to secure 35, 236 votes in the General Election, failing to secure a seat. 

Several former ministers and other politicians have also failed to secure seats in the Tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka. They are;

1. Former Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera – Hambantota  
2. Former Minister Ramesh Pathirana – Galle
3. Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara – Galle
4. Former Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera – Matara
5. Former Minister Roshan Ranasinghe – Kalutara District
6. Former Minister S. M. Chandrasena – Anuradhapura
7. Former Minister Duminda Dissanayake – Anuradhapura
8. Former Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi – Ratnapura
9. Former state minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya – Kegalle
10. Former state minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon – Matale 
11. Former state minister Rohana Dissanayaka – Matale
12. Shasheendra Rajapaksa – Monaragala
13. Nipuna Ranawaka – Matara
14. Daham Sirisena – Polonnaruwa District
15. Former Sri Lanka cricket Captain T. M. Dilshan – Kalutara (Newswire)

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The Colombo High Court has ordered to grant bail and release former minister Johnston Fernando from the case related to using employees of the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) for election purposes.

On October 24, the court issued an arrest warrant for Johnston Fernando for failing to appear for the case hearing.

The Bribery Commission had filed a case on corruption against former minister Johnston Fernando, former CWE Chairman Eraj Fernando, and the former minister’s Private Secretary Raj Mohideen Mohammad Sakeer.

Johnston Fernando is accused of allegedly causing an unlawful loss of nearly Rs. 40 million to the government by employing 153 employees of Lanka Sathosa (CWE) for election work from 2010 -2014. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando has been released on bail in connection to the case related to an illegally assembled luxury vehicle that was found in the car park of a hotel in Colombo.

The former Parliamentarian was released on five sureties of Rs. 5 million each by the Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

On October 23, Johnston Fernando was arrested by the CID and remanded after having recorded a statement with the CID on the vehicle in question. 

The CID launched a probe after receiving a tip-off that a luxury vehicle was found parked at the hotel car park. Hotel authorities had informed that the black colour BMW with number plate WP C 24-0430 had been parked a day before the Presidential Election.

During interrogations at the time, the suspect who had parked the car had confirmed that the vehicle belonged to former minister Johnston Fernando and had been dropped off by his driver. Upon inspection CID officials had found several documents belonging to Johnston Fernando inside the BMW but had not found any documents related to the registration of the vehicle.

Cross-examinations on the garage number of the vehicle with the Motor Traffic Department found that the number plate had been registered under the name of a private firm in Nawala. 

Inspections of the BMW’s Chassis number WBA5E52010G115194 by Sri Lanka Customs found that a vehicle with the said Chassis had not been legally brought down to Sri Lanka. Based on a request by the CID officials, officials from the Government Analysts Department inspected the vehicle after which it was revealed that the BMW had been illegally assembled. 

Police investigations also found that the illegally assembled vehicle was suspected to have been reported stolen in England, as per the INTERPOL website.

Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa told the media that, the vehicle had been manufactured in Germany and sold to a buyer in England and the Police had found links to this vehicle and a similar luxury car reported missing in England in 2021, based on the Chassis and engine numbers. (Newswire)

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