Bond Scam Trial: Pre-trial conference in January

he Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar on Monday (2) fixed January 28, 2027, for a pre-trial conference in the case against former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and several others over the controversial Central Bank bond transaction.

The case was taken up before a three-judge bench presided over by High Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage.

Several defendants, including Perpetual Treasuries Limited directors Arjun Aloysius, Geoffrey Aloysius and Kasun Palisena, appeared before court.

The bench had earlier decided to proceed with the trial in the absence of two defendants, former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and Ajahn Punchihewa.

During yesterday’s proceedings, lawyers appearing for some of the defendants informed court that they had not received certain documents relevant to the case.

Taking note of the submissions, the bench directed Senior State Counsel Oswald Perera, appearing for the Attorney General, to take steps to provide the outstanding documents to the defence before the next hearing.

The court accordingly fixed January 28 next year for a pre-trial conference.

Former Central Bank Deputy Governor P. Samarasiri and Perpetual Treasuries Limited directors Arjun Aloysius, Geoffrey Aloysius, Kasun Palisena, Muthuraja Surendran, Chitta Ranjan Hulugalle and P. Gunawardena are among the defendants in the case.

The Attorney General has filed indictments against Mahendran and the other defendants under the Offences Against Public Property Act, alleging that they caused a loss of Rs. 688 million to the Government through the Central Bank bond auction held on February 27, 2015.