Akila Viraj Gets Bail | Court Issues Travel Ban

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who had been remanded in connection with corruption allegations, was today released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

The order was issued when the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

Also released on bail was Deepal Sanjeewa, an employee attached to a fuel station owned by Kariyawasam, who had been remanded in connection with the same investigation. Both suspects were released on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 5 million each.

The court also imposed an overseas travel ban on the suspects.

Kariyawasam had been arrested and remanded over allegations that he caused a loss exceeding Rs. 2.7 million to the State by recruiting four employees on a temporary basis to the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor and allegedly deploying them for his personal work.

Meanwhile, second suspect Deepal Sanjeewa was accused of causing losses to the Government after being appointed to the public service as a Management Assistant while allegedly working at a private fuel station owned by the former minister.

He had been arrested on August 12 and remanded until today pending further investigations into the allegations.

The court ordered that the case be taken up again on October 20 as the investigation and legal proceedings continue.