The Colombo High Court today rejected the preliminary objections raised by two accused, including former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon, in connection with a corruption case filed by the Bribery Commission.
The Bribery Commission indicted former Chief Minister of the North Central ProvinceS.M. Ranjith Samarakoon and Shanthi Chandrasena, the spouse of Minister S.M. Chandrasena before the Colombo High Court Shanthi Chandrasena, for allegedly causing an unlawful loss to the government obtaining a fuel allowance illegitimately between September 27, 2012, and December 31, 2014.
ShanthiChandrasena is the spouse of Minister S.M. Chandrasena,
S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon is a brother of Minister of Lands S.M. Chandrasena.
High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige fixed the case for trial. for July 10.
The Director-General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed indictments against S.M. Ranjith and his then private secretary Shanthi Chandrasenaunder section 70 of the Bribery Act on eight charges.
The Bribery Commission alleged that first accused S.M. Ranjith while serving as the North Central Province Chief Minister had made arrangements to allocate a sum of Rs.2.68 million to the official vehicle of his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena, despite her fuel allowance being added to her salary.
The indictments had been filed on five counts under section 70 of the Bribery Act and sections 113 and 102 of the Penal Code.
