The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on charges of corruption.
Wickramasinghe, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission earlier today (24), was presented before Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, Ada Derana reporter said.
According to officials from the Bribery Commission, between 2012 and 2014, while Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne was allocated fuel allowances through his ministry, Wickramasinghe allegedly arranged for SriLankan Airlines to unlawfully pay over Rs. 2.8 million in fuel allowances. Initially, Rs. 50,000 per month was disbursed, which was later increased to Rs. 75,000 per month, the officials said.
The Bribery Commission noted that the suspect was taken into custody on charges of committing acts of corruption. However, the Commission stated that it did not object to the bail request.
After reviewing the submissions, the Magistrate was released on two surety bails of Rs. 5 million each. An overseas travel ban was also imposed on the suspect.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for 28 July, Ada Derana reporter said.
