1 November 2011 12:15 am
The Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday released ex Kandy Mayor Kesara Dahamsonda Senanayake from the penalty imposed on him on a pardon given by President Rajapaksa after the ex mayor had been found guilty of having misappropriated public funds.
Mr. Senanayake had been found guilty after trial by Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singappuli on a charge of misappropriating Rs.1,851,8556 of public money while attending a March 2004 workshop conducted by the Asia Pacific Organization of the International Local Government Association in Taipei.
He was charged under the Bribery and Corruption Act.
After trial the accused was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for five years and a fine of Rs.100,000 on the first count and an additional Rs.100,000 on the second count. In lieu of non payment of the fine an additional three months’ imprisonment was imposed.
Mr. Senanayake appealed to the High Court and the Court of Appeal but it was dismissed.
The accused was pardoned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the powers vested in him by the Constitution and was released. The pardon granted on August 8 was conveyed to the Magistrate’s Court today. (T. Farook Thajudeen)