19 January 2022 02:14 pm
The Aircraft Engineer and the Managing Director of Sakurai Aviation have been granted Bail by the Negombo Magistrate's Court.
The two suspects were arrested and produced before the Negombo Magistrate on January 13 after one of the Aircrafts landed in a paddy field. The Colombo Crimes Division informed Court that the Sri Lanka Airforce had conducted an investigation into the condition of the fuel the aircraft used.
Defence Counsel informed court that the Airforce has no competence or laboratory to conduct investigations. They told Court that the sole authority by Law was the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and that the investigation into an aircraft landing is unlike investigating a motor accident. The Lawyers also said that the Police had no competence to investigate an issue of such technical nature and that the CAA had all the requirements to conduct an investigation.
They submitted to Court that the Company had followed every single protocol as mandated by Law and that the fuel was purchased from Lanka IOC and Ceyptco.
Each suspect was ordered to be released on a surety bail of Rs.100,000.
Faiszer Musthapha PC with Hafeel Farisz and Ashan Bandara appeared for the first suspect Managing Director. Nalinda Indathissa PC with Asith Siriwardena appeared for the second suspect. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)