May 26, Colombo (LNW): Former Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has been granted bail following his recent arrest in connection with a controversial fertiliser procurement deal that took place during a previous government.
The case centres around the importation of an allegedly substandard batch of organic fertiliser from a Chinese supplier in 2021—a transaction that has since drawn scrutiny over its handling and transparency.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate, Thanuja Lakmali, issued the bail order after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence earlier today. The court decided to release Aluthgamage on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000, in addition to five surety bonds valued at Rs. 1 million each. As part of the conditions, two of the guarantors must be close relatives of the accused.
In a move reflecting the gravity of the allegations, the court also imposed a travel ban on the former minister and ordered the surrender of his passport. Furthermore, Aluthgamage has been strictly warned against attempting to contact or influence any witnesses involved in the investigation. He has also been instructed to fully cooperate with the ongoing legal proceedings.
The former minister was brought before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court by prison officials this morning, following his surrender on May 19 in response to an arrest warrant issued earlier that week.
The warrant had been granted upon a request by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABIC), which is probing suspected irregularities in the fertiliser procurement process during Aluthgamage’s time in office.
His legal team had previously sought anticipatory bail, expressing concern that he could be taken into custody as the corruption inquiry progressed. The court initially remanded him pending further submissions from the Bribery Commission.
