Samaraweera Weerawanni acquitted from bribery charges

By T. Farook Thajudeen

The former Chief Minister of Uva Provincial Council Samaraweera Weera-wanni and Provincial Councilor Attatitta Marakkalage Buddh-adasa were acquitted from a case of bribery by the Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday.

The Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption indicted the former Uva Provincial Council Chief Minister Sama-raweera Weerawanni for causing a monitory loss of Rs. 212,500 by well knowing that this act of his purchasing Mitsubishi Motor Graders to the Provincial Counsel would cause a monitory loss to the state.  Councilor Attatitta Marakkalage Budd-hada was accused to have aided and abetted the first accused to caused the monitory loss to the state during the period August to October 2000. The Commission charged the two suspects after holding an open investigation against the two suspects.  The suspects were defended by President Counsel Anil Silva with Chandika Pieris during the trial an on conclusion of the trial the Magistrate reserved his order for yesterday and  when the matter was called the magistrate acquitted the suspects from the case.