Two IT officials from the local agent of the X-press Pearl vessel were released on bail yesterday (12th of September ) after being arrested on suspicion of deleting data and email records following the ship’s fire incident.
The suspects, Prasanna Jayawardena (Director) and Roshan Senaviratne (Assistant Director), were granted bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshadha Migara Mahrachchi under two personal sureties of Rs. 2.5 million each. A foreign travel ban was also imposed on both individuals.
Their arrests came after a forensic investigation by the Department of Computer Studies at the University of Colombo reportedly revealed that the suspects had erased the vessel’s data systems.
Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon, representing the Attorney General’s Department, said authorities are seeking to conduct a forensic audit with the assistance of an international university. He added that the Minister of Justice is working to obtain Cabinet approval for the audit.
The suspects’ counsel argued that his clients had already provided statements to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) multiple times, and noted that other individuals involved in the case had already been granted bail. Following these submissions, the Additional Magistrate approved their release.
The case is scheduled for the next hearing on 24th of September at 2:00 PM.
