July 14, Colombo (LNW): Former minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne has petitioned the Colombo Magistrate’s Court for anticipatory bail, aiming to pre-empt a potential arrest in connection with a high-profile investigation being conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The application follows claims made in court that Senaratne has deliberately avoided arrest over his alleged involvement in a controversial sand mining transaction, which reportedly led to a financial loss of Rs. 26.2 million to the state.
According to commission officials, the former minister has been untraceable in recent days—allegedly switching off his mobile devices, vacating his known residence, and disregarding repeated legal summons.
Adding to the controversy, a medical certificate produced on Senaratne’s behalf by his legal counsel was dismissed by authorities as inadmissible, raising further questions about his intent to comply with the legal process.
Officials representing the Bribery Commission had initially moved to obtain an arrest warrant. However, the magistrate presiding over the matter advised that such a request could not proceed without the requisite legal documentation.
The court subsequently reminded the commission that it possesses the statutory authority to detain individuals under investigation and directed it to take appropriate action within the scope of the law.
