Court Rejects Rajitha’s Bid to Halt Arrest Warrant

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo Chief Magistrate, Tanuja Lakmali Jayatunga, today rejected a request made by former Minister Rajitha Senaratne to temporarily suspend the arrest warrant issued against him.

The warrant was issued on August 12 by Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe, in connection with an investigation into a sand mining project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour, allegedly awarded to a Korean company, resulting in a loss exceeding Rs. 20 million to the government.

Senaratne’s legal team filed a motion before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court requesting a stay order on the warrant. 

After reviewing the motion, Magistrate Jayatunga issued her ruling today.

During the hearing, Assistant Director of Legal Affairs Sulochana Hettiarachchi, appearing on behalf of the Bribery Commission, stated that Senaratne, named as the second suspect in the case, could not be located, prompting the Commission to seek the warrant on August 12.

She added that the warrant was necessary due to the suspect’s failure to cooperate and avoidance of the investigation.

Representing Senaratne, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne argued that the warrant was obtained during a court vacation week, and accused the Bribery Commission of misleading the court. 

He claimed the warrant was issued without proper grounds, and that his client had no intention of evading the Commission.

Gunaratne further stated that Senaratne was unwilling to be remanded for an offense he did not commit, and that there was no need to avoid the Bribery Commission.

After considering submissions from both parties, Magistrate Jayatunga rejected the request to suspend the warrant.

Additionally, the Magistrate denied a separate request from the Bribery Commission to issue a public notice summoning Senaratne under the Code of Criminal Procedure.