CID and ex- PUCSL Chief in hot water

Saturday, 4 November 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake is alleged to have used intimate videos to threaten and harass his former personal assistant, a writ petition filed in the Court of Appeal revealed.

The petition alleged that the Computer Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigations Department had failed to take any action against Ratnayake despite evidence that he had threatened the release of intimate videos between Ratnayake and his personal assistant.

Counsel Hafeel Farisz appearing for Gayathri Illanperuma informed the Court of Appeal that Ratnayake had coerced her into giving false statements to the Bribery Commission regarding a Mercedes Benz car which she alleged was rented for him by the PUCSL.

Court heard that Ratnayake had obtained Rs. 375,000 monthly rental from the PUCSL for the car he was using which he rented to the PUCSL after creating a dummy company named General Business Ltd. The petitioner illanperuma was the only shareholder of the company.

Counsel appearing on behalf of the former personal assistant told the Court that the matter was investigated by the COPE and an investigation by the Bribery Commission was launched. He said that the relationship between the two thereafter soured after which Ratnayake had repeatedly threatened her with the release of intimate videos.

The Court was told that despite complaints no action had been taken by the investigating officers against Rathnayake even though there was overwhelming evidence. The petitioner said that she feared that the CID would arrest her as they had launched an investigation into a complaint lodged by Ratnayake.

Several transcripts involving Ratnayake were read in Court.

The Attorney General informed the Court that the petitioner would not be arrested. The Court of Appeal presided by Justice Bandula Karunarathne and Justice Sanjeewa Morais ordered the CID to submit the progress of the investigation into the complaint lodged by the petitioner on 15 November 2023.

Counsel Hafeel Farisz appeared for the Petitioner and Deputy Solicitor General Shanil Kularathne appeared for the CID.