By: Isuru Parakrama
December 05, Colombo (LNW): Lohan Ratwatte, the former State Minister, and his wife Shashi Prabha Ratwatte have been granted bail by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court today (05) in connection with an ongoing investigation into an illegally imported luxury vehicle.
The court set a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 for each defendant, along with two personal bonds, each valued at Rs. 1 million. Additionally, Lohan Ratwatte has been subjected to an overseas travel ban, preventing him from leaving the country whilst the investigation continues.
The couple had been arrested earlier in connection with the luxury car, which was found to have been imported and assembled in Sri Lanka without the necessary legal authorisation.
The vehicle was discovered by police during an inspection at a three-storey property in Mirihana, Embuldeniya, which is owned by Shashi Prabha Ratwatte.
The police had been alerted to the presence of a luxury car without number plates, prompting a closer investigation.
During the police inquiry, both Lohan and Shashi Ratwatte explained that the property where the car was found belonged to Shashi’s mother, and that the vehicle had been brought to the location by Ratwatte’s private secretary.
However, the situation took a tragic turn when it was revealed that the private secretary had recently been found dead from gunshot wounds in Katugastota, Kandy, adding an element of mystery to the case.
