News
Causing Rs 26.3 mn loss: Warrant issued on Dr. Rajitha Senaratne
Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena yesterday (12) issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, who has been named as a suspect in an investigation conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The Magistrate issued the order after considering the facts presented by the CIABOC
The CIABOC informed the Magistrate that the former Minister had failed to make a statement despite being requested to do so and thereby obstructing the on-going investigations. Dr. Senaratne is under investigation for illegally leasing a sand mining project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour to a Korean company, causing a loss of Rs 26.3 million to the State.
Earlier Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga rejected the anticipatory bail filed by Former Minister Senaratne seeking release prior to any attempt by the CIABOC to arrest him.
According to sources the investigation got underway way back in 2013 following a tip-off. Appearing on behalf of the Commission, Counsel Sulochana Hettiarachchi stated that the investigation had been initiated in 2013 following an anonymous tip-off that a dredging vessel belonging to Lanka Fisheries Harbour Corporation had illegally been sold for scrap.
Dr. Senaratne’s counsel said that the project had been undertaken following Cabinet approval obtained in 2008 and 2012.
It has been reported that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has been found dead at his residence in Athurugiriya this morning (17)
it is suspected that he may have taken his own life.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
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