News
Welisara Magistrate releases Sathosa garlic scam suspects on bail, despite CID objections
By Mangala Madurapperuma
Welisara Magistrate Heshantha de Mel on Thursday granted bail to five suspects (four males and a female) taken into custody by the organised crime investigation unit of the CID over the Sathosa garlic scam.
The suspects are Ranasinghage Sirimal Fernando- Senior Manager (Supply), HW Sameera – Shop Manager (Welisara), Nuwan Lakmal, Chamila Jayanti Asuramanne (Deputy General Manager Lak Sathosa – Purchasing) and Deepak Kumara Wasamji, the businessman who purchased the stock of garlic.
The suspects were not produced in the court owing to the pandemic. Their statements were obtained via zoom.
The CID officers objected to the request of the counsel for the suspects for bail. The officers informed the court that the investigations into the alleged data manipulation in the computer system of the Lak Sathosa were in progress. They also opposed the bail application on the ground that several more suspects had to be taken into custody, and an investigation connected to the scam was pending at the Colombo Port and statements had to be recorded from several others.
Magistrate Heshantha de Mel ordered that the five suspects be released on Rs 100,000 cash bail each and two sureties worth five million rupees each. They were ordered to surrender their passports and be present at the CID on the last Sunday of every month.
The Magistrate permitted the request by the CID to keep a sum of Rs 74 million under the court custody till the case was over.
Kalinga Indatissa PC and Nimanka Jayatunga appeared for the suspect Deepak Kumar Wasamji. Twenty five lawyers including Sampath Mendis PC, Sajeewa Ganegoda, and Nalinda Silva appeared for the other suspects.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
Sears takes five again as New Zealand complete ODI series sweep over Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
-
Business2 days agoStrengthening SDG integration into provincial planning and development process
-
News6 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
Sports7 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
Business20 hours agoNew SL Sovereign Bonds win foreign investor confidence
-
Sports3 days agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
News7 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features7 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Features7 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know