Colombo Chief Magistrate Mr. Buddhika C. Ragala has ordered the release of former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena from eight cases filed by the Bribery Commission after the Bribery Commission informed the court today that the three Commissioners of the Bribery Commission had not submitted written orders to file a case against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena.
He was released from the eight cases Bribery Commission filed during Yahapalana Governance against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, while serving as the Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board in 2007, alleging that he had committed corruption by incurring losses to the government from renting vehicles to the Board.
Assistant Director General of the Bribery Commission Asitha Anthony, who appeared for the Bribery Commission at the hearing of the case today, stated that there was a problem in maintaining the case as the written order of the three Commissioners of the Bribery Commission had not been filed against Sarana Gunawardena. That has emerged.
Niroshan Siriwardena, counsel for Sarana Gunawardena, requested the court to release the accused if it is difficult to proceed with the case.
Accordingly, after considering the submissions made by the Bribery Commission and the counsel for the accused, the Colombo Chief Magistrate ordered the release of the accused Sarana Gunawardena in eight cases filed by the Bribery Commission.