When Rakitha and Charith went to Dubai to demand a bribe and were returning, Wijedasa was also on the plane - the money was sent in Dirhams

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama has ordered the remand of three suspects, including the son of a former Justice Minister, until the 3rd of next month, in connection with a case involving the acceptance of a bribe of 120 million rupees from the wife of Nadun Chinthaka Wickramarathna alias 'Harak Kata', an organized underworld gang leader currently in custody, for several reasons including providing relief from investigations.

Those remanded are Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Rajapaksa, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Charith Abeysinghe, an electorate organizer of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, and Aruna Waruna Handige, a former director of the Civil Aviation Authority. The Magistrate issued this order, rejecting the bail applications of these suspects who were arrested and produced before the court by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

According to facts revealed in court, this massive bribe was given to the suspects not in Sri Lankan currency but in 'Dirham', the currency used in the United Arab Emirates. This operation was coordinated through a person named Nirmala Bandara alias 'Herbi', residing in Dubai, and on March 23, 2023, these three suspects departed for Dubai. There, at Herbi's residence, they met and held discussions with Madhushika Madhuwanthi, the wife of underworld member 'Harak Kata', and Midigama Ruwan, who is currently in custody. During the discussions, the suspects initially demanded 500 million rupees, which was later reduced to 300 million through negotiations, and finally to 200 million. An advance of 120 million rupees was requested from that amount, and investigations have revealed that this sum was paid in Dirhams, with 100 million on one day and another 20 million on the following day.

The main objective of obtaining this bribe was to prevent 'Harak Kata', who is in detention, from being killed by the police, to remove the detention orders imposed on him, to transfer him from Boossa High-Security Prison to another prison, and to arrange for his release from investigations. The Bribery Commission stated before the court that the third suspect, Aruna Waruna Handige, used the 'Undiyal' system to bring the 120 million rupees obtained in Dubai into the country. These three suspects returned to Sri Lanka on March 29, 2023, on the same flight, and Assistant Director General Anusha Sambandapperuma stated that further investigations are being conducted into information received that Rakitha Rajapaksa's father, the former Justice Minister, also participated in this trip.

Investigations have also revealed that after these bribe monies were brought into the country, the suspects showed a distinctive consumption pattern. Accordingly, the third suspect, Aruna Waruna Handige, purchased a luxurious 'BMW' type motor car in 2024 and renovated his house to a high standard. Furthermore, reports submitted to the court indicate that the first suspect, Charith Abeysinghe, also purchased a luxurious 'Range Rover' type jeep in 2024 and is currently constructing a modern house in the Kahathuduwa area.

During the trial, the Bribery Commission, representing the prosecution, stated that Nirmala Bandara alias Herbi and Midigama Ruwan have provided statements and sworn affidavits regarding this incident. They also stated that an audio recording related to this transaction has been received and sent to the Government Analyst. The prosecution strongly opposed granting bail to the suspects, pointing out a high tendency to influence witnesses. Specifically, the prosecution confirmed that witnesses have been influenced through the former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe filing a complaint and initiating legal action under the Online Act against a YouTube channel that initially exposed this incident. However, President's Counsel Anil Silva, appearing for Rakitha Rajapaksa, argued that this was a political vendetta due to the suspect's father being a politician and criticizing the government. He also requested bail for the suspect as he is a heart patient.

Considering the arguments of both parties, the Colombo Chief Magistrate emphasized that when a certificate from the Bribery Commission has been presented under the Bribery Act or Section 149 of the new Anti-Corruption Act, exceptional reasons must be presented for granting bail to suspects. The Magistrate pointed out that merely being a lawyer or having ordinary medical conditions does not constitute an exceptional reason for granting bail. The Magistrate ordered the Commissioner General of Prisons to provide special protection to the suspects within the prison due to their profession as lawyers and decided to remand the suspects, ordering the Bribery Commission to submit a progress report on the investigations by the 3rd of next month.