Former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, who appeared before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (29), was remanded until 09 September.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama issued the order after considering the facts presented by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the counter arguments of defence lawyers.
Senaratne, for whom a warrant had previously been issued, was arrested after appearing before the court yesterday morning (29).
Earlier, Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne, who had issued a remand order in connection with another case filed by the Bribery Commission, directed that Dr. Senaratne be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday. 
Accordingly, the High Court judge further ordered that he remain in custody until presented before the Magistrate’s Court.
Dr Senaratne, who was wanted by the Bribery Commission for a probe, had failed to respond to their summons, with the court being informed that he was evading arrest.
In early August, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant for Dr. Senaratne’s arrest, following submissions by the Bribery Commission.
Investigators alleged that the former Minister had failed to respond to multiple summons and had avoided giving a statement over a controversial contract awarded during his tenure.
The case is tied to a sand dredging project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour, which was awarded to a Korean company. The Bribery Commission maintains that the deal caused a financial loss of more than Rs. 20 million to the state.
Reporting that Dr. Senaratne remained missing, his phones switched off, and his residence found empty, the Bribery Commission alleged that he was deliberately evading arrest.
By A.J.A. Abeynayake 