The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday said that the arrest of three individuals, including the son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) organiser, was in connection with a high-profile bribery investigation linked to underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias Harak Kata.

Those arrested were Attorney-at-Law Rakhitha Rajapakshe, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, SJB Horana electorate organiser Charith Abeysinghe, and former Civil Aviation Authority Director Aruna Sri Chathuranga.

According to the CIABOC, in 2023, while Harak Kata was being held by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a bribe of Rs. 500 million had allegedly been demanded from his wife, Madushika Madhuwanthi, in Dubai to secure Harak Kata’s release from detention or facilitate his transfer to a prison other than the Boossa High Security Prison in Galle, the CIABOC said.

The CIABOC said the alleged bribe had subsequently been reduced to Rs. 200 million, of which Rs. 120 million had allegedly been obtained as an advance payment.The suspects were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday evening and ordered to be remanded till July 03.

by Norman Palihawadane ✍️

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday told Parliament that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which had remained in force for 46 years despite being introduced as a temporary measure, would be repealed within the next few months.

The President said Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara had completed drafting the legislation that would replace the PTA and that the final discussions on the matter had already been concluded.

“The PTA was introduced in 1979 as a temporary law, but it has continued for the past 46 years. There have been strong public demands for its repeal,” President Dissanayake said.

He said the government was committed to abolishing the controversial legislation while ensuring that the country remained equipped to deal with organised crime and serious security threats.

The President said a new legal framework would be introduced specifically to address organised criminal activities, with clearly defined provisions and safeguards to prevent misuse.

He noted that one of the major criticisms against the PTA was its broad definition of terrorism, which had raised concerns over possible violations of fundamental rights and democratic freedoms.

The proposed legislation, he said, would focus narrowly on organised crime while protecting constitutional rights, including freedom of expression and other civil liberties.

President Dissanayake also said the government had taken steps to amend the Online Safety Act introduced by the previous administration, instead of implementing it in its existing form.Although the legislation had been passed by Parliament, it had not been enforced under the present administration, he said, adding that Cabinet approval had already been granted to proceed with amendments.

He stressed that legal reforms should be carried out through a transparent process that respected public rights, noting that previous instances where laws passed by Parliament were later amended at the Cabinet level had raised concerns regarding transparency and due process.The President said the government’s approach was to ensure that new laws addressed security challenges while maintaining democratic values and safeguarding individual freedoms.

By Saman Indrajith ✍️

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday told Parliament that his party would initiate disciplinary action against its Horana organiser Charith Abeysinghe, arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged bribery charges.

Responding to a query raised by the government in Parliament, Premadasa said there would be no room within the SJB for individuals involved in wrongdoing or criminal activities.

“We will definitely conduct a disciplinary inquiry and take the strongest possible action if necessary. There is no place in our party for those who commit wrongdoing or criminal acts. A final decision will be taken after an investigation,” he said.

Abeysinghe, along with Attorney-at-Law Rakhitha Rajapakse and former Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Director Aruna Sri Chathuranga, was arrested earlier yesterday by the CIABOC over allegations of soliciting a Rs. 120 million bribe from an underworld figure’s wife.