The Colombo Magistrate’s Court delivered contrasting bail decisions on Thursday for two sets of suspects arrested by CIABOC on corruption charges earlier this month.
SLRC Officials Released
Former Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Sarath Kongahage and former Additional Director General Devapriya Abeysinghe were granted bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama. Each was released on two personal bails of Rs. 1 million, with a travel ban imposed preventing overseas travel.
The pair had been arrested by CIABOC on April 7 on allegations that six employees were recruited outside the approved cadre and assigned to the personal staff of former Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, causing financial loss to the SLRC. The case is scheduled to be recalled on September 8 for a progress report on investigations.
PS Chairman’s Bail Rejected
In a separate ruling, the same court rejected the bail application of Velu Yogaraj, Chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha, who was also arrested in the April 7 CIABOC sweep. Yogaraj remains in remand custody over separate corruption allegations.
The split outcomes — release for the SLRC officials but continued detention for the local government figure — underscore the varying severity of the cases CIABOC is pursuing as part of the government’s broader anti-corruption drive.
