Mount Lavinia Magistrate A.D. Chathurika De Silva strongly reprimanded the Colombo Fraud Bureau (CFB) for sending extracts of the case involving Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe to the Attorney General before completing its investigation, The Sunday Times reported.
The case relates to the alleged fraudulent lease of a building belonging to the National Workers’ Institute for Rs. 3.6 million by individuals, including Samarasinghe, who are accused of posing as officials of the National Workers’ Congress.
The magistrate questioned the haste in forwarding the file, warning that sending incomplete documents could delay proceedings. She instructed the CFB to seek the AG’s advice only after the investigation is concluded.
Police, in a further report to court on Friday, stated that statements had now been recorded from all parties connected to the incident. Minister Samarasinghe gave a statement at the Fraud Bureau on 21st of August , while Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe and Kaduwela Mayor Ranjan Jayalal were questioned earlier on 14th of August .
When asked if the building belonged to Samarasinghe, police denied it. They noted that Samarasinghe had told investigators he acted as the lessee based on a decision taken at the union’s 2020 general meeting, and that funds from the lease were used for union activities.
Representing the aggrieved party—the lawful office bearers and the trust—President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, assisted by Attorney-at-Law Kisal Senanayake, alleged that the file was deliberately sent to the AG to delay the investigation. He argued that police had already reported facts to court establishing a crime and that the court had previously ordered the immediate arrest and production of the suspects. Instead, he claimed, the police were shifting their stance.
Gunaratne further contended that Samarasinghe had committed a crime by fraudulently claiming to be a union official and leasing the property while a lawful set of office bearers was in place.
Magistrate De Silva postponed ruling on the request by the aggrieved party to name Samarasinghe and others as suspects until September 26, noting that she is due to be transferred and that her successor will issue the order. She also emphasized that no external pressure had been brought to bear in the case.
