Basil granted bail

Kaduwela Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala yesterday released former Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa on a Rs. 1 million surety bail following a Colombo High Court’s order to revise its remand order on the suspect. 

Colombo High Courts ordered the Kaduwela Magistrate to revise the remand order made against Rajapaksa in line with the revision bail application filed on his behalf.

High Court Judge M.C.B.S. Morayas informed the High Court Registrar to send the revision order to the Kaduwela Magistrate via fax. The Judge observed that the suspects had been granted bail by the High Court over similar cases and that crucial investigations were completed. 

Rajapaksa was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) at the end of July over the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 36.5 million belonging to the Divi Neguma Development Authority which he was accused of using to purchase and distribute GI pipes during the run-up to the last presidential election. 

The FCID claimed that Rajapaksa had committed offences under the Public Property Act and the Penal Code. It further charged that he had purchased the GI pipes for local government institutions without any request being made by them. 

The Court further ordered the Magistrate to revise the remand order taken against former Divi Neguma Development Department Director General Kithsiri Ranawaka, who was arrested with Rajapaksa over the same allegations. He too was released on a Rs.1 million surety bail.