The Bribery and Corruption Commission withdraws the case against Priyankara Jayaratne

Former Minister Pryriyankara Jayaratne and his private secretary were today ordered to be released from a corruption case following the Bribery Commission's decision to withdraw the charges.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis ordered the release of former Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and his private Secretary from the corruption case following the Bribery Commission's decision to withdraw the charges. However, the Chief Magistrate observed that the order of release would not be an impediment for the prosecution to file a fresh case.

The Bribery Commission had filed this corruption case against two accused for causing unlawful loss to the government after appointing an individual as a Development Plan Coordinating Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority contrary to the Civil Aviation Act.

The Bribery Commission informed the court it had decided to withdraw the case in accordance with the Anoma Polwatte case decided by the Supreme Court.

The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed this case against former Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and his private secretary, B. Dayawansha, under Section 70 of the Bribery Act on five charges.

The Bribery Commission alleged that the former Minister had unlawfully appointed B. Dayawansha as the Development Plan Coordinating Officer from 2011 to 2012 while he was serving as the Civil Aviation Minister.