Manusha Nanayakkara’s Bail Bid Fails

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (14) rejected a request for anticipatory bail filed by former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, who sought legal protection ahead of a possible arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

The bail application was presented before Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, who delivered a detailed 15-page ruling.

Reading from the final page of the order, the Magistrate stated that the court was not satisfied with the claim that the Bribery Commission was acting with prejudice in its intent to arrest the petitioner.

Nanayakkara’s legal counsel, Attorney-at-Law Asthika Devendra, informed the court that the former minister will appear before the Bribery Commission tomorrow to provide a statement.

The anticipatory bail request was filed in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities involving the recruitment of workers for agricultural employment in Israel. Nanayakkara claimed that the Bribery Commission was attempting to arrest him with malicious intent, and sought court protection in advance.