(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Colombo Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was in remand custody, over a motor accident.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjana de Silva today ordered the release of former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka who was arrested and remanded in connection with the 2016 road accident in Rajagiriya.
The Magistrate ordered that the suspect be released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and two personal bail of Rs. 5 lakhs. He was ordered to report to the Colombo Crimes Division on the last Sunday of every month between 9 am and 12 noon.
The Magistrate also ordered the MP to refrain from influencing the witnesses.
Announcing the bail order, the magistrate stated that the Attorney General had not instructed the MP to be arrested under the Public Property Act.
The Magistrate pointed out that although it has been reported to the court under the Public Property Act that due to the accident of the jeep, which is a state property, the state incurred a loss of Rs. 917,244, the police have included the Public Property Act in the B report of the case without the advice of the Attorney General.
The Magistrate’s order stated that the suspect Champika Ranawaka will be released on bail as there is no reason to deny bail.
The Colombo Crimes Division arrested MP Ranawaka last week, over the 2016 accident, in violation of parliamentary tradition.
The National Police Commission has asked the Acting Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickramaratne to compile a detailed report on the process followed when arresting the parliamentarian.
