Proceedings have begun before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court against Attorney-at-Law Rakhitha Nirmala Rajapaksa, Charith Wasantha Kumara Abeysinghe, and former Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd.
director Varushahennadige Aruna Sri Chathuranga over allegations that they solicited and accepted a Rs. 120 million bribe from the wife of an organised crime suspect.
When the case was taken up yesterday, Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama adjourned further proceedings until 2.00 p.m., after an application was made by Attorney-at-Law Sanjaya Marambe, who informed court that President’s Counsel Ashoka Weerasuriya, appearing for the first accused, was engaged in higher court proceedings.
During the hearing, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption informed court that it has launched a separate investigation into a foreign trip made by former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to Dubai between March 21 and March 28, 2023.
The Commission further noted that the inquiry is linked to Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, the father of the second accused, Rakhitha Rajapaksa, while no additional details of the investigation were disclosed in court.
