August 11, Colombo (LNW): Former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne has been indicted before the Colombo High Court in connection with an alleged irregular contract awarded for sand dredging at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has brought the case against Senaratne, alleging that the contract was improperly granted to a South Korean company during his tenure as Fisheries Minister.
According to the allegations, the manner in which the project was awarded failed to comply with established government procurement procedures and caused the State to suffer a financial loss exceeding Rs. 20 million.
The Bribery Commission maintains that the decision-making process surrounding the sand removal operation resulted in public funds being exposed to an avoidable loss. The case centres on whether the former minister improperly intervened in or authorised the award of the contract.
The indictments have now been formally filed before the Colombo High Court, paving the way for the matter to proceed through the judicial process.
The allegations remain subject to determination by the court, and the filing of indictments does not in itself constitute a finding of guilt against the former minister.