Namal - Renuka got 'set' in prison

The Prisons Department confirms that Mr. Renuka Perera, former Chairman of the National Transport Commission and former Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, is currently being held at the Colombo Remand Prison. Mr. Perera, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, has been remanded until the upcoming 29th after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

This legal action has been taken against him in connection with the illegal issuance of route permits for buses. The main charge against Mr. Renuka Perera is that, acting contrary to the provisions of the National Transport Commission Act No. 37 of 1991, as well as the recommendations of the Cabinet decision dated September 19, 2014, he issued 56 passenger service permits for the Southern Expressway outside the legal framework and without collecting annual fees upfront.

Prison sources state that Mr. Renuka Perera is being held in the 'N' ward of that prison. Approximately 10 other detainees, including government employees remanded under various charges, are also in that ward, and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa is also being held in the same ward.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court recently ordered the further remand of Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa until the 23rd, in connection with an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of approximately two million US dollars during the process of purchasing Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines. The decision regarding the suspect MP's bail application is scheduled to be announced on that day.