Patali granted bail
Ordered to report to the CCD every Sunday
Was asked not to influence witnesses in the case
Former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was remanded in connection with an accident that occurred in 2016, was yesterday granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate.
He was released on a cash bail of Rs.25,000 with five sureties of Rs.500,000 each and was ordered to report to the CCD every Sunday.
Mr. Ranawaka was arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) last Wednesday on the instructions of the Attorney General in connection with his involvement in a road accident at Welikada in 2016. He was subsequently remanded.
The vehicle belonging to Mr. Ranawaka was alleged to have been involved in an accident with a motorcycle severely injuring the motorcylist identified as Sandeepa Sampath from Godagama.
In the wake of several allegations that the CCD had violated parliamentary traditions when arresting MP Ranawaka, the NPC has directed acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to prepare a detailed report on the process followed when arresting the MP
The Magistrate directed Mr. Ranawaka to refrain from influencing the witnesses in the case and observed that the AG had not instructed him to be arrested under the Public Property Act.
The Magistrate said though it was reported to the Court under the Public Property Act on the basis that the jeep is state property. He said the State had incurred a loss of Rs.917,244, the police had included the Public Property Act in the B report but had not done so on the advice of the AG.
In the wake of several allegations that the CCD had violated parliamentary traditions when arresting MP Ranawaka, the National Police Commission (NPC) has directed acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to prepare a detailed report on the process followed when arresting the the MP. During the proceedings the CCD produced the second suspect, Thusitha Dilum Kumara,
Mr. Ranawaka’s driver, who was remanded until January 06, 2020.