Bail application by Lalith Kotelawala:

HC fixes inquiry for May 4

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundara yesterday fixed the inquiry of the bail application filed by Ceylinco Consolidated Group of Companies Chairman Lalith Kotalawala for May 4.

The Court fixed the inquiry for May 4 following the Attorney General filed written objections against the application filed by Kotalawala pleading to grant him bail. Deputy Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne filed the written objections on behalf of the Attorney General.

Filing the bail application through Attorney Prasad W. Sirimane Kotalawala cited OIC of the Commercial Crime Division of the CID M. Abeysinghe and the Attorney General as the respondents. Filing the application on an earlier date, Kotalawala said the Golden Key Credit Card Company which was one of the companies of his group was revealed to have misappropriated depositors' money. Thereafter he directed the matter to the CID for investigation. Kotalawala in the application said he had been granted a surety bail of Rs 2.5 million but he was later remanded on February 23 by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate without a request by the Attorney General. Stating that he was not in good health, he prayed before the Court to grant him bail.