Indicted Minister Kumara Jayakody released on bail

By Bhagya Silva   

Minister of Power Kumara Jayakody was granted bail by the Colombo High Court after indictments were served against him in connection with causing a loss of more than Rs. 8.8 million to the Government while he was serving as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertiliser Company.   

Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Godawela ordered that the accused be released on two sureties each valued at Rs. 1 million.   

The Bribery Commission has filed charges against the accused, alleging that in 2016, while serving as the Procurement Manager of Lanka Fertiliser Company, he had engaged in procurement activities relating to carpeting the company’s warehouse premises in a manner that conferred an undue advantage to a private company, thereby causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the Government.   

When the case was taken up, the accused Minister appeared before Court in compliance with a summons previously issued. Thereafter, the indictments along with the annexures, were served on the accused in open court.   

Officials appearing on behalf of the Bribery Commission submitted a document containing proposals in relation to the case and requested that the defence inform Court on the next date if there is any acceptance of those proposals.   

President’s Counsel Nalinda Indatissa, appearing for the accused, submitted that his client had appeared before Court in terms of the summons issued and requested that bail be granted.  He informed Court that the defence would notify the Court on the next date regarding their position on the proposals submitted by the prosecution.   

After considering the submissions, the Judge granted bail to the accused and also ordered that his fingerprints be obtained.   

The Judge further fixed the pre-trial conference for May 6 and directed the accused to appear before Court on that date.