Travel allowance case: Bogollagama's lawyer to raise preliminary objections

Former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama's defence lawyer will raise preliminary objections to the charge that his client had acted in violation of a Treasury circular with regard to foreign travel allowances, Colombo's Chief Magistrate was informed this week.

The case has been filed under the Bribery Act. Mr. Bogallagama was accused of persuading the then Board of Investment Chairman Lakshman R Watawala to approve funds in excess of the stipulated amount as overseas travel allowances during a visit to London in 2006.

Mr. Bogollagama, who was then the Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, had obtained US$ 14,772.50 to cover his accommodation cost, knowing well that he was violating the circular and that the amount was in excess of what was permitted and, therefore, was causing a loss to the state, according to the charge sheet.

Mr. Bogollagama had travelled to London to attended a Sri Lanka trade exhibition and a buyers consortium.

The case was called before Colombo's Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

Mr. Bogollagama's lawyer Jayantha Weerasinghe said he hoped to raise preliminary objections on the grounds that only one of the three commissioners of the Bribery Commission had approved the filing of charges against his client.

The Supreme Court had ruled that in cases such as this, the Bribery Commission chairperson and the other two members must sanction the filing of the case, Mr. Weerasinghe said.

Appearing for the Bribery Commission, Senior State Counsel Wasantha Perera said he would not accept the grounds on which the preliminary objection was being raised.

Chief Magistrate Jayaratne, after considering the submissions, asked the defence lawyer to submit the written submissions by February 8.

Mr. Bogollagama, who was appointed Governor of the Eastern Province by President Maithripala Sirisena in 2017, was also asked to appear in court on that day.