Ex-Ministry Secy wants barrier removed to return to SL

30 April 2015 06:30 pm

A former ministry secretary who had been named as a suspect in the controversial Norochcholai Lakvijaya coal case, has requested Court to lift the travel restrictions imposed on him so that he could return to the country.

The CID Special Investigations Unit had named former Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M. M. C. Ferdinando who left Sri Lanka on the night of the Presidential Elections on January 8, over the investigations into the import of coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya coal power plant.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne with Counsel Udara Muhandiramge and Thejitha Koralage appearing on behalf of Mr. Ferdinando informed Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that their client was expecting to return in July this year.

The Defence Counsel moved court that the order issued on the Immigration and Emigration Controller preventing the former Ministry Secretary from leaving or arriving in the country be lifted.

Mr. Arsecularatne told Court that his client had gone abroad since his daughter was expecting a baby. The Counsel further told that his client would extend his support to the going investigations. “My client is not involved in this transaction. He can be arrested at the airport but the Court should facilitate him to arrive,” Mr. Arsecularatne said.

Having considered the submissions, Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage noticed the police Special Investigations Unit OIC to appear in Court on May 13 in order to look into the matter. The request made by defence to facilitate the suspect to arrive is to be considered on that date.    

In this case, four directors attached to the Lanka Coal Company (Private) Ltd had been arrested on charges of having committed a criminal breach of trust causing a loss of Rs.1536 million to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) when importing coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya coal power plant. Later, four directors Kanchana Ratwatte the Chairman of Ceylon Shipping Cooperation Ltd, Ravi Jayawickrama Harbor Master of SLPA, Nimal Bandara and Chulananda Delgoda were ordered to be released on two sureties of one million rupees each. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)