Deyata Kirula CEO remanded

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Deyata Kirula National Exhibition 2013 who was arrested on charge of having committed a Rs. 39 million fraud was ordered to be remanded till 15 May by a Colombo Court yesterday.

The suspect Kanthi Gunawardana who was also served as an Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology was arrested by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) soon after her anticipatory bail was rejected by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

When the suspect was produced before Magistrate Thilina Gamage, the CID moved Court that the suspect be remanded as she is alleged to have committed a punishable offence comes under Public Property Act. The CID further submitted to Court that they are yet to record statements from the suspect over the incident.    

However, President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe appearing for the suspect argued that the money allocated for the Deyata Kirula Exhibition cannot be considered as Public Property as they come through the sponsors. He further maintained that his client had done all transactions in accordance with the state monetary regulations. He further informed Court that the suspect was suffering from an illness and moved Court those reasons be considered as exceptional circumstance to release her on bail.

In replying, the CID told that the funds allocated for the Deyata Kirula exhibition directly comes under the purview of the National Physical Planning Department and maintained that the offence directly comes under the Public Property Act.

Having considered the seriousness of the offence the Magistrate ordered that the suspect be remanded till 15 May.

Last Wednesday (8), the Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed on behalf of the former Chief Executive Officer to pre-empt the possibility of her arrest over charges levelled by the CID.