Bail rejected, Ranawaka remanded till 24. Dec.

Former Minister and MP Patali Champika Ranawaka arrived from Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday 

– Pic by Ruwan Walpola

• Bail hearing next Tuesday 
• Former Minster brought to Court amidst tight security 
• Remanded over involvement in road accident which left motorcyclist with serious injures

Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was remanded till 24 December by the Colombo Magistrate Court yesterday in connection with a road accident involving his vehicle in 2016.

A bail application made on his behalf was rejected by the Magistrate who set Tuesday for the bail hearing.

A large number of Policemen were deployed as the handcuffed former Minister of Megapolis and Western Province Development MP Patali Champika Ranawaka was brought to Court in the prison bus last morning as many of his supporters gathered outside the court premises.

After a Court hearing, Ranawaka was taken back to the remand prison.  In fast unfolding scenes from Wednesday evening, Police personnel from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) took Ranawaka into custody and late night the same day produced him before the Magistrate. He was initially remanded till yesterday. Ranawaka was taken into custody on the advice of the Attorney General who directed that the MP be arrested and produced in Court in connection with the 2016 accident in which a young motorcyclist was seriously injured.

It has been alleged that the CCTV footage of the accident was deleted at the behest of Ranawaka, a charge he has denied.