A Colombo magistrate has adjourned the case against former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake until 23 February and ordered that notice be issued on the bribery commission, after no representative of the commission appeared when the case was called on Tuesday.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyanwarsha Vithana postponed the matter and directed that notice go to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the Daily Mirror reported.

The allegation

Karunanayake, an MP, is accused of causing a loss to the Government by paying the salaries of three people recruited ostensibly for a special project of the Ministry of Finance, using National Lotteries Board funds.

The allegations cover the period from 12 January 2015 to 22 May 2017, during which he served as Minister of Finance. The prosecution case is that he caused a loss to the state and conferred an unlawful benefit on three individuals by recruiting Kaluaarchchige Thilan Niyomal Perera and D.M. Savini Peiris as Coordinating Officers, and Sumith Priyantha Sigera as a Management Assistant, to the National Lotteries Board, and paying their salaries and allowances out of the Board’s funds.

The accused

Karunanayake was arrested by CIABOC over the allegations and produced before court. He was released on bail on 31 August.

Former National Lotteries Board Chairperson Shyamila Perera is named as the first suspect in the complaint. She was also produced before court previously and released on bail.

President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa appeared for the first suspect. Senior Counsel Asoka Weerasooriya, with counsel Sanjay Marabe and Pasan Karunarathna, appeared for Karunanayake, the second suspect.

What the non-appearance means

A magistrate issuing notice on a prosecuting commission is a procedural step requiring it to explain its absence, not a finding against it. The filing does not say why no CIABOC representative attended, whether the commission was aware the case was listed, or what the consequence of a further non-appearance would be.

Not reported

The Daily Mirror does not give the quantum of the alleged loss, state what stage the case has reached, or say whether charges have been framed. It does not report any response from Karunanayake or from CIABOC, and does not say whether the February date is for further proceedings or for the commission to show cause.

No other verified newsroom had filed on Tuesday’s hearing at the time of writing.