The Colombo High Court will deliver its ruling on October 8 on the preliminary objections raised by the defence in the corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others.
The three defendants, who are currently out on bail, are former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, former Director of the Office for Reparations Sepalika Saman Kumari, and former Director General of the Mahaweli Authority Keerthi Bandara Kotagama.
The defence raised preliminary objections to the charges filed by CIABOC, while Assistant Director General of CIABOC Subhashini Siriwardena made submissions on behalf of the Commission.
According to the indictments, a building and other property allegedly constructed without authorisation on land belonging to the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority in Sevanagala were damaged during the unrest on May 9, 2022.
CIABOC alleges that although compensation for the property had been officially rejected, the defendants used their official influence to pressure certain government officials attached to the Office for Reparations and obtain compensation amounting to Rs. 8.85 million.
The defendants have been indicted on allegations of committing corruption and aiding and abetting the commission of the offence in connection with the alleged payment. (Newswire)