Former Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister and former Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board (DLB), Sarana Gunawardena, was today ordered to be released from the corruption case by the Colombo High Court.

The Bribery Commission had filed indictments against the former Deputy Minister for alleged misuse of a state vehicle valued at over Rs. 2.8 million while he was serving as the Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board during the previous regime.

The Bribery Commission had filed a corruption case against Sarana Gunawardena for allegedly committing this offence between August 1, 2006, and July 31, 2007.

High Court Judge Namal Balalla ordered to release the accused from the case, taking into account the preliminary objections raised by the defence challenging the maintainability of the case.