President’s former Chief of Staff H.I.K. Mahanama and former Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC) P. Dissanayake, who were arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20 million, have been further remanded until August 21.

Presenting the bail plea, the defense counsels made a request to consider the delay of the hearing of this case as an exception to release the suspects on bail, informing the court that provisions have been made under the clause 78.2 of the Bribery Act to conclude a bribery case at the earliest possible.

However, the attorney representing the Bribery Commission informed the court that no special information has been revealed to release the suspects on bail.

Accordingly, the attorney requested the court to reject the bail plea of the defendants.

Considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered that the decision regarding the bail plea will be issued on August 21.

The suspects were arrested by the Bribery Commission for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs 20 million from an Indian businessman in order to transfer the machinery equipment belonging to the Kantale Sugar Factory. 

They have initially requested a bribe of Rs 540 million and later reduced the amount to Rs 100 million. The suspects were arrested while accepting an initial payment of Rs 20 million from that.