Court orders suspects to forward affidavits

Ceylinco Sri Ram case:

Sarath Malalasekera

The Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday directed the ten suspects in the Ceylinco Sri Ram Company alleged misappropriation case to forward their affidavits to the Attorney General in order to settle the depositors.

The company is alleged to have misappropriated the depositors funds running into several millions.

President's Counsel Gamini Marapana citing a Supreme Court judgement stated that an application has been made for bail on behalf of the seventh respondent. The Attorney General states that he is mindful of the fact that in terms of Section 3 of the Bail Act No.30 of 1997, that even on the maximum charge that could be preferred against seventh respondent J.L.B. Kotelawala on the facts in this case, that in terms of the said Act, it is mandatory that the Court grants bail.

Answering Court Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Navaratne Bandara said that this Court has power to grant bail for the suspects.

After lengthy submissions by Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Navaratne Bandara, Senior Defence Counsel, President's Counsel Gamini Marapana, President's Counsel Rienzie Arasacularatne and Kuvera de Soysa, the Judge said that the Court would consider the application for bail in respect of the suspects now in remand custody on the next date and remanded the suspects till November 11.

Senior Defence Counsel submitted to court that the clients are prepared to submit affidavits to Court stating that they are willing to settle the depositors.

Attorneys Jeewantha Jayatilleke, Ranjan Mendis, Naveen Marapana, Asela Rekawa, Shiraz Noordeen, Sudharshini Gunaratne, Haritha Adikari and Tazio Ratnayake also appeared for the defence.

Attorneys Wasantha Wijewardena, Seetha Wijewardena and Sumudu Hewage watched the interests of the depositors.

The case will be called again on November 11.