The Gampaha High Court today served indictments against former ministers Mervyn Silva and Prasanna Ranaweera, along with several others, over an alleged incident involving the fraudulent sale of government-owned land using fake deeds.

The indictments were formally presented today to the accused, including the two former ministers who are currently out on High Court bail.

In addition to the former ministers, the other accused who were served indictments are Sarath Edirisinghe, Ajith Milroy, Jayantha Cabraal, and Naveen Weerakoon.

Gampaha High Court Judge Nayana Seneviratne, who released all the accused on bail, ordered the case to be adjourned until March 27. (Newswire)

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Former minister Mervyn Silva and three others have been granted bail over an illegal property sale case.

The Gampaha High Court today released the suspects on Sureties of Rs. 25 million each and two cash bails of Rs. 200,000 each. 

Former Minister Mervyn Silva was arrested and remanded over allegedly selling a plot of state-owned land in Kiribathgoda to a private party by forging documents.

He was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials while at his residence in Battaramulla in March. (Newswire)

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The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has filed an indictment against former minister Mervyn Silva.

The indictment has been filed over charges that he committed an offence under the Bribery Act, by the acquisition of assets, including properties and vehicles, and maintaining bank accounts exceeding his declared lawful income. 

The Bribery Commission states that former minister Mervyn Silva had committed this offence between March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2012.

The Bribery Commission states the former minister had spent Rs. 13.9 million to purchase land in the Kadawatha area and Rs. 71.3 million to purchase land at Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha in Colombo-07.

In addition, he has spent Rs. 32.375 million to purchase a Mercedes Benz for his son Malaka Silva, over Rs. 5.5 million to buy a Hyundai vehicle and Rs. 8.85 million to buy a Defender. 

As such, the Bribery Commission has filed a case consisting of two charges against former minister Mervyn Silva, alleging that he committed an offence under the Bribery Act by acquiring property beyond his legal income. (Newswire)

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Former minister Mervyn Silva and former state minister Prasanna Ranaweera have been further remanded over an illegal property sale case.

The Mahara Magistrate’s Court today further remanded the duo and three other suspects until 09 June 2025.

Mervyn Silva and Prasanna Ranaweera are remanded over allegedly selling a plot of state-owned land in Kiribathgoda to a private party by forging documents.

Former Minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials while at his residence in Battaramulla in March.

Former state minister Prasanna Ranaweera, who was evading arrest, was remanded after surrendering to the Mahara Magistrate’s Court on 07 May. (Newswire)

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Former minister Mervyn Silva and former state minister Prasanna Ranaweera have been further remanded over an illegal property sale case.

The Mahara Magistrate’s Court today further remanded the duo and three other suspects until 26 May 2025.

Mervyn Silva and Prasanna Ranaweera are remanded over allegedly selling a plot of state-owned land in Kiribathgoda to a private party by forging documents.

Former Minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials while at his residence in Battaramulla in March.

Former state minister Prasanna Ranaweera, who was evading arrest, was remanded after surrendering to the Mahara Magistrate’s Court on 07 May. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Mervyn Silva and three others have been further remanded over allegations of the disposal of state land using forged documents.

The Mahara Magistrate’s Court today further remanded the four accused until 19 May 2025.

Former Minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials while at his residence in Battaramulla in March.

He was arrested related to allegations of financial fraud regarding a state-owned land in Kiribathgoda. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Mervyn Silva and three others have been further remanded over allegations of the disposal of state land using forged documents.

The Mahara Magistrate’s Court today further remanded the four accused until 05 May 2025.

Former Minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials while at his residence in Battaramulla in March.

He was arrested related to allegations of financial fraud regarding a state-owned land in Kiribathgoda. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two others have been further remanded over allegations of the disposal of land using forged documents.

The Mahara Magistrate’s Court today further remanded the three accused until 09 April 2025.

Former minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials while at his residence in Battaramulla recently.

He was arrested related to allegations of financial fraud regarding a state-owned land in Kiribathgoda. (Newswire)

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The Mahara Magistrate’s Court has imposed an overseas travel ban on former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera and two others, who are currently absconding in connection with an illegal land sale case.

The case involves allegations that state-owned land was sold to a private party using forged documents.

Former Minister Mervyn Silva, also implicated in the case, has been further remanded until 24 March. 

While Silva remains in custody, the travel ban for Ranaweera and the two others underscores the court’s efforts to prevent them from fleeing the country as investigations continue. (NewsWire)

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Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two others have been remanded over allegations of the disposal of land using forged documents.

The Mahara Magistrate’s Court today remanded the three accused until 17 March 2025.

Former minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials while at his residence in Battaramulla yesterday.

Addressing the media today, Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga confirmed that two more persons had also been arrested in connection to the case.

SSP Manatunga said the CID had arrested the former minister based on lengthy investigations conducted into allegations of financial fraud regarding a land located at Kiribathgoda. 

He said on the advice of the Attorney General, the CID had conducted a lengthy investigation into the matter. (Newswire)

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Former minister Mervyn Silva has been arrested over allegations of the disposal of land using forged documents, Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said. 

Addressing the media today, SSP Manatunga said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had arrested him based on lengthy investigations conducted into the matter.

The Police Spokesman further said that the land in question is located at Kiribathgoda. 

SSP Manatunga said on the advice of the Attorney General, the CID had conducted a lengthy investigation into the matter. 

He added that along with former minister Mervyn Silva, two more persons have been arrested so far in connection to the allegations. 

Former minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by CID officials while at his residence in Battaramulla last evening. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Mervyn Silva was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today.

The Police said he was arrested by CID officials while at his residence in Battaramulla this evening.

The former minister has been arrested over allegations of financial fraud by preparing false documents regarding land in the Kelaniya area.

The Police added that the CID has launched further investigations into the matter. (Newswire)

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A group identifying as the ‘Fathers’ Union’ has called on the government to refrain from supporting the private member’s bill, Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2023, which aims to repeal “provisions that make sexual orientation a punishable offence” in Sri Lanka.

Representing the group, former minister Mervyn Silva told the media that funds had been obtained by non-profit organizations from USAID to change the cultural values of Sri Lanka and destroy the nation.

“US President Donald Trump himself is against the LGBTQIA+ community. The former Ranil Wickremesinghe Government may have allowed the introduction of the Bill. We informed the previous government not to allow the introduction of the Bill. We must protect our children,” he said.

Mervyn Silva warned that if the government also approves the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2023, then not only the Fathers’ Union but also the Mothers’ Union and other groups will commence a protest starting from the Maha Sanga in Kandy. 

In August 2022, Attorney at Law Premnath Dolawatte, a Member of Parliament representing the ruling party in Sri Lanka, handed over a private members bill to then President Ranil Wickremasinghe to amend the Penal Code provisions that criminalize consensual same-sex relations between adults. 

Then President Ranil Wickremesinghe, subsequently announced that the government would not take action to block the Bill.

A revised version of the Bill was gazetted on 23 March 2023. The Bill was presented to Parliament on 4 April 2023. With the determination by the Supreme Court regarding the Bill’s constitutionality, the Bill now requires a simple majority in Parliament to become law. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Mervyn Silva accused of threatening and assaulting a former journalist of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, was ordered to be released on bail today by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta.

The Magistrate also ordered that Lal Peiris, a former municipal councillor, who was named as the third suspect in the case, be immediately arrested and produced before the court, while a ban on his foreign travel was also ordered. 

A case was filed against former Minister Silva and two others who stormed the headquarters of the state-owned television network in 2007 and assaulted a journalist who was employed there. 

Silva was ordered to be released on bail of Rs. 500,000. (Newswire)

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