Malaka Silva's arrest warrant recalled

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo Additional Magistrate  Dharshika Wimalasiri yestrrday recalled arrest warrant issued against former Minister Mervyn Silva's son Malaka Silva.

The suspect surrendered before court and tendered medical report over his absence before court on last court proceedings in the ongoing case involving an incident where he had allegedly assaulted on a Scottish couple at a nightclub in Colombo 2014.

On the last occasion Suspect Malaka Silva did not turn up for the case proceedings and the Magistrate issued an arrest warrant on the suspect for not appearing before Court property.

The further Magisterial inquiry was postponed for March 6.

Court directed to prevent sale of Udayanga's properties found by FCID

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today made a direction to prevent possible sale of Udayanga Weeratunga's properties found by FCID recently.

The direction was made to Aththanagalle land registrar over two properties found in Dompe area and Colombo land registrar over an apartment identified in Trillium residencies Borella.

The FCID on the last ocassion informed Court that it had identified over Rs. 70 million worth properties belonging to former ambassador Udayanga Weerathunga in Sri Lanka during the inquiry conducted into financial lost caused to the government when purchasing four Ukraine- built MIG 27 aircrafts in 2006.

Filing a further report in Court, FCID IP Nihal Francis revealed about two lands - 7 acres in extent worth of Rs. 40 million and 1 acre land worth of Rs. 5 million in Dompe area- and a luxury apartment (Trillium Residencies) owned by Mr. Weeratunga in Borella area worth of Rs. 25 million.

The FCID sought court direction on the land registrar to prevent possible sale of those identified properties immediately.

In the meantime, acceding the FCID’s request the Magistrate permitted the prosecution to obtain certain bank details from several banks regarding a suspicious fund transaction of Udayanga Weeratunaga amounting to Rs. 20 million. 

Frm Chief Justice Mohan Peiris charged for corruption

-BC files corruption case
-CCM notices suspects to be appeared before court on March 8

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Bribery Commission today filed a corruption case against Mohan Peiris (former Chief Justice and former Attorney General), A.H.M.D. Navas (former Solicitor General and current Court of Appeal Justice) and M.M.C. Ferdinandes (former Secretary of Lanka Electricity Company) in Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

The case was filed against the three suspects over preparing a wrongful Attorney General's opinion to avoid taking criminal investigation on irregularities and corruption reported in land purchases for LECO during the time period of December 1 to 30, 2010 when Mohan Peiris was the Attorney General.

According to the Bribery Commission it was revealed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had earlier initiated an investigation into the alleged irregularities at the LECO (Lanka Electricity Company). But the Secretary of the LECO had then sought the opinion of the Attorney General over the need of a criminal investigation on the matter.

Later the Attorney General's opinion received that there was no need of a criminal investigation on the matter. Bribery Commission said that the Attorney General’s opinion had wrongfully prevented the CID from continuing the investigation on the allegation at the LECO and certain alleged people, who had involved in the irregularities, being charged in a criminal case.

The Bribery Commission also stated that there were two Committees (Siripala Jayalath Committee 2009 and Ratnapala Dias Committee 2010) which had also scrutinized about the alleged irregularities in land purchases of LECO.

The Committees had also recommended criminal investigation on the matter but the Attorney General's opinion had disregarded those committee recommendations and decided no need of criminal investigation over the allegation, stated Bribery Commission.

Bribery Commission filed charges against the three suspects under Section 70 (Corruption) of the Bribery Act and Sections 102 (abetment) and 113 (a) (Conspiracy) of the Penal Code.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara noticed the suspects to appear before courts on March 8 over the case.

FCID traces 94 Mn worth Udayanga Weerathunga’s properties in SL

By Shehan Chamika Silva

The FCID today informed Court that it had identified Rs. 94 million worth properties belonged to former ambassador Udayanga Weerathunga in Sri Lanka during the inquiry conducted into financial lost caused to the government when purchasing four Ukraine- built MIG 27 aircrafts in 2006.

Filing a further report in Court, FCID IP Nihal Francis revealed about two lands - 8 acres in extent worth of Rs. 40 million and 1 acre land worth of Rs. 25 million in Dompe area- and a luxury apartment (Trillium Residencies) owned by Mr. Weeratunga in Borella area worth of Rs. 29 million.

The FCID sought court direction on the land registrar to prevent possible sale of those identified properties immediately.

However, Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne will consider the request of the FCID to hold the sale of properties today (January 19).

In the meantime, acceding the FCID’s request the Magistrate permitted the prosecution to obtain certain bank details from several banks regarding a suspicious fund transaction of Udayanga Weeratunaga amounting to Rs. 20 million.