Court rejects plea to dismiss case against former Defence Minister Ratwatte

The Colombo High Court yesterday overruled a plea to dismiss the bribery case against former Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte.

This was following Ratwatte’s defence counsel requesting the Colombo High Court to dismiss the bribery case against Ratwatte.

High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse has said that a strong case had been established by the indictment filed by the Attorney General against Ratwatte.

The judge has fixed the next hearing of the case for 21 September.

A case was filed against Ratwatte for his failure to declare to the Bribery Commission the mode of earnings of his assets amounting to Rs.33 million in cash and immovable property worth of Rs.1.25 million earned from 31 March, 1997 to 31 August, 2002.

The judge asked Ratwatte to inform on the next court date whether he will lead evidence of his witness or make a dock statement or give evidence from the witness box.