Rajitha indicted over Rs.20m Kirinda harbour deal

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has filed indictments before the Colombo High Court against former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne over an alleged corruption offence involving a sand removal project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour.

CIABOC alleges that Senaratne, while serving as Fisheries Minister, improperly awarded the sand removal project at the harbour to a South Korean company, causing a loss of more than Rs.20 million to the State.

The Commission had previously informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that investigations into the allegations had been completed and that indictments would be filed in the High Court.

The case was taken up before the Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday, when both suspects appeared before court.

CIABOC informed the court that it would not be filing charges against the first suspect, Upali Liyanage, and requested that he be discharged from the proceedings.

Having considered the submissions, the Chief Magistrate ordered that Liyanage be discharged and that indictments be filed against Senaratne in the High Court.

The Commission alleges that the award of the sand-mining project violated procurement procedures and resulted in a financial loss exceeding Rs.20 million to the Government.

Both suspects had previously been remanded in connection with the case and were later released on bail.

CIABOC informed court that proceedings against Senaratne would now continue before the Colombo High Court.