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| Wednesday, 26 May 2004 |
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by Ranga Chandrarathne Additional Magistrate of Colombo, Miss Amali Ranaweera, yesterday remanded four suspects till June 08, 2004 for stealing and suppling State-owned 3000 roofing sheets to the Ceylon Tobacco Company. These roofing sheets were donated by the Indian Government on the Indian Credit Line to be distributed among the low income families. The arrest was made on a complaint lodged by an Executive Security Officer of Ceylon Tobacco Company, Narada Romesh Nilan Jayasuriya that he had discovered a consignment of 3000 roofing sheets belonged to the State being stored at Polonnaruwa and Galewela stores facilities. Earlier, the Ceylon Tobacco Company had called for a tender for 3000 roofing sheets for their stores in Polonnaruwa and Galewela. The company had paid Rs. 840 per sheet. The company had found out that the roofing sheets belonged to the State, only when they were brought down and stored at the two stores. The suspects are namely, Kotte Municipal Council Member of UNP, Anthony Perera Jayasuriya, Mohmad Rizwan, Mohmad Shiraz, Prasanna Kumara. The suspects were arrested by the Colombo Crime Division on May 18, 2004. They were charged under the Public Property Act after producing before the courts. Counsel for the first suspect submitted that the offence was an unbailable offence unless there is special circumstances. He further said that the suspects would co-operate with the CCD in carrying out investigations. CCD said that they had recovered 2000 roofing sheets and another 1000 roofing sheets from two different places. Assistant Superintendant of Police, Palitha Fernando and Sub Inspector, R.M.A. Rajapakse of CCD further submitted that they would need about two weeks to complete investigations. CCD also stated that although these roofing sheets were said to be distributed among low income families, there is no evidence to support the argument by the suspects. These sheets are valued at Rs. 2,205,000. The counsel for the second, third, and fourth suspects submitted that the suspects had volunteered to make statements to the CCD on the matter but the Magistrate informed that this would be considered on the next date and ordered them to be further remanded till June 08, 2004. Counsel Manjula Pathiraja, Priyankara Walawe, Suraj Kongala, Nalindra Indrathissa appeared for suspects. The case was put off for further hearings till June 08,2004. |
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