Bribery case against Keheliya closed

Colombo (News 1st): Colombo High Court Judge Sashi Mahendran today (December 20) announced that the bribery case filed against Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and former Chairman of the State Printing Corporation Jayampathi Bandara cannot be continued. Keheliya Rambukwella and former Chairman of the State Printing Corporation Jayampathi Bandara were accused of using Rs 230,000  of the State Printing Corporation money in 2012 to pay Rambukwella’s personal mobile phone bill incurring losses to the government, which was in the office prior to 2015. Defence Counsel earlier filed preliminary objections to claim as the Commissioner-General of the Bribery Commission had not filed the documented approval from the three Commissioners of the Commission, the case cannot be taken forward. However, Magistrate's Court dismissed the objections and ordered the case to continue. Thereafter, both Rambukwella and Heenkenda filed a revision application with the Colombo High Court against the order. Examining the revision application, Colombo High Court Judge Sashi Mahendran pointed out, the documented approval from the Commissioners from the Bribery Commission is an essential item for such a case. The High Court Judge ruled, the case was a file in violation of the Bribery Act and ordered for the decision to be directed to the Colombo Magistrate's Court for necessary action.