MP Rajitha Senaratne Remanded till May 27

• Colombo HC QUASHED PREVIOUS order to grant bail
• transferred to Pallanchena isolation centre in Negombo

By Yoshitha Perera 

MP Rajitha Senaratne who was arrested after surrendering  to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was ordered to be  remanded till May 27 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.  

The former Minister was transferred to Pallanchena isolation centre in Negombo. Earlier, the Colombo High Court had yesterday quashed the order of  the Colombo Chief Magistrate to grant bail to former Minister Rajitha  Senaratne over the controversial ‘white van’ press conference.   

The judgement was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne.   

After revoking the bail order by the High Court, Colombo  Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne ordered the Criminal Investigation  Department (CID) to produce MP Rajitha Seneratne before courts.  On December 19, 2019 MP Senaratne had filed an anticipatory  bail application seeking prevention of his arrest, which was rejected   by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. 

The following day he filed another anticipatory bail application, however, four days later, the Colombo Additional magistrate issued a warrant to arrest the former Health Minister over the controversial press conference. 
On December 26, 2019 it was  reported that MP Senaratne was admitted to the Cardiovascular Intensive   Care Unit (CICU) of Lanka Hospitals in Narahenpita. 

The next day he was arrested and remanded over the “white  van” press conference he had organised in last November, but was allowed  to continue receiving treatment at the hospital. On December 30, 2019,  Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne ordered the release of MP  Senaratne on two sureties of Rs.500,000.   
In the order the Colombo Chief Magistrate observed that  according to the Criminal Procedure Code, the charges leveled against MP  Senaratne were bailable offences. However, a revision application  filed by the AG before High Court on January 8, 2020 challenging the  Colombo Chief Magistrate’s order on granting bail to Rajitha Senaratne.     
Former State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Dr.  Mohammed Rumi and two other individuals, Sakalawalli Arachchige Sarath  Kumara and Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake, who had been allegedly involved  in the incident were also released on bail.