Court relaxes bail conditions for ex-Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, others

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, May 6 (Daily Mirror) - Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela today ordered the relaxation of bail conditions imposed on former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and three others, who were previously arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and later released on bail.

Previously, the suspects were required to report to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the CID on the last Sunday of every month.

President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa and Shavendra Fernando, appearing on behalf of the suspects, requested that the bail conditions be eased, noting that their clients had cooperated fully with the investigations in good faith.

The suspects whose bail conditions were relaxed are former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, his former private secretary Dhammika Shirani Sumanarathna, former Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation S. Amarasekara and the former Minister’s coordinating secretary Anura Senewiratne.

During today’s proceedings, an officer representing the FCID informed court that the officers investigating the case were currently assigned to election related duties and that he had no direct knowledge of the ongoing investigations.

The case was postponed to September 2 for further proceedings.

The investigation relates to a complaint regarding the alleged misuse of dry rations worth Rs. 6,046,110, obtained from the Sathosa in December 2014. The goods were intended for distribution to flood victims in the Bingiriya and Narammala areas but were allegedly diverted for other purposes.