Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne on Friday (18) announced that further hearing of the case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against former Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and two others would resume on 28 October.
The case pertains to the alleged misuse of public funds while Rambukwella was the Media Minister. The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) had no need for GI pipes, but the Ministry allegedly spent Rs. 8.7 million on purchasing 600 of them, which were then allegedly used for the UPFA’s presidential election in 2015. The accused also face charges related to aiding and abetting the misuse of state resources.
The case was heard before a different High Court judge previously, and the current judge decided to restart the examination of witnesses, with both prosecution and defence agreeing. Accordingly, she ordered that the fifth witness for the prosecution appear in court on the next hearing date and directed that summons be issued.
by A. J. A. Abeynayake 