Salochana Gamage and businessman further remanded in alleged bribery case

Two suspects, including former Provincial Councillor Salochana Gamage, who were arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe, were further remanded till January 17 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali.  

The Chief Magistrate announced that the order on the bail request for the two suspects will be delivered on the next date.  

Salochana Gamage and another businessman were arrested in Pitakotte by the Bribery Commission over a Rs. 9 million bribery incident.  

Anil Silva, PC, along with Kalinga Indatissa, PC, and Nevil Abeyratne, PC, appearing for former Provincial Councillor Salochana Gamage, sought bail on the grounds that the wellbeing of their client’s three-and-a-half-year-old child should be considered as an exceptional circumstance.  

Silva submitted to the court that his client is currently unemployed and primarily responsible for caring for his three-and-a-half-year-old child, as his wife is employed. He stated that the separation from his child, following his incarceration, has caused psychological harm to the child. The defence submitted relevant medical reports to support their claim that the child’s separation from the father has detrimentally affected the child’s wellbeing.  

Silva further argued that, in its reports filed before the court, the Bribery Commission has so far failed to specifically mention the relevant section of the law allegedly violated by the suspects. He contended that the Bribery Commission arrested his client based on a complaint made six months ago.  

Meanwhile, the Bribery Commission informed the court that investigations into the incident are still ongoing and requested that the two suspects be further remanded.  

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage requested the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint another Magistrate for the case involving former Provincial Council member Salochana Gamage, as the suspect is his brother. Subsequently, the JSC transferred Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage to the Moratuwa District Court.