Alleged forgery: Seethawaka District Secretariat official released on bail

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, July 28 (Daily Mirror)- Don Ruwini Wasana, the former Additional District Registrar of the Seethawak District Secretariat was released on bail in connection with preparing a forged birth certificate to facilitate the issuing of a passport for an organised criminal figure known as 'Kehelbaddara Padme'.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga today granted bail to the suspect with two sureties of Rs. 1 million each.

Investigations revealed that the suspect who has since been interdicted, had been working at the Seethawak District Secretariat at the time of the alleged offense. 

She was produced before court on Friday evening by the Criminal Investigation Department’s Anti-Human Smuggling Unit.

CID officers told court that the suspect had allegedly created a forged birth certificate using the false name 'Don Adithya Abimana' and a fabricated registration number in January 2024, in order to prepare a passport for the fugitive 'Kehelbaddara Padme'.

She is also suspected of producing several other false birth certificates under fabricated registration numbers, complete with forged stamps of senior officials  and providing them to external parties. 

CID officers informed court that they have requested an order to send the relevant data system connected to the incident to the University of Moratuwa for further examination.

Appearing for the suspect, the defense counsel stated that she had voluntarily appeared before the CID to provide a statement. The counsel also informed court that she is 48 years old and has three children and that she is willing to fully cooperate with the investigation.

After considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered the release of the suspect. 

The case will be taken up again on November 13.