Court resumes trial against former Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith

The Colombo High Court resumed recording evidence from the prosecution witnesses in a corruption case filed against two accused, including former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon.

The Bribery Commission had filed indictments before the Colombo High Court against former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon and his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena, the spouse of former Minister S.M. Chandrasena for allegedly causing an unlawful loss to the government when obtaining fuel allowance between September 27, 2012, and December 31, 2014. 

S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon is a brother of former Minister of Lands S.M. Chandrasena.
 
The Chief Accountant attached to the Chief Ministry of North Central Province stated in her evidence that there was no precise circular applied to fuel allowance of the post of Chief Minister. Ex-Chief Secretary of North Central Province Ananda Kularathne also gave evidence and confirmed that there was not a precise circular to govern the fuel allowance of the Chief Minister. He admitted that ex-Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake used more vehicles than S.M Ranjith. 

The witnesses admitted that they have no evidence to say that the Chief Ministry has given an official vehicle to Shanthi Chandrasekara who was the private secretary of ex-Chief Minister S.M. Ranjth. 

The Bribery Commission alleged that first accused S.M. Ranjith while serving as the North Central Province Chief Minister had made arrangements to allocate a sum of Rs.2.68 million to the official vehicle of his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena despite her fuel allowance being added to her salary. 

The indictments had been filed under five counts under Section 70 of the Bribery Act and Sections 113 and 102 of the Penal Code.

Deputy Director General of the Bribery Commission Asitha Anthony appeared for the prosecution and senior counsel Darshana Kuruppu with counsel Chinthaka Udadeniya, Dineru Bandara, Sudarsha P. Silva and Sahan Weerasinghe appeared for the defence. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)