Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali today (April 8) ordered the release on bail of Member of Parliament Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who is facing corruption-related charges.
The ruling was delivered during a hearing at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, following the presentation of a report by investigators from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The report indicated that preliminary investigations into the case have been completed.
Dassanayake is accused of causing a loss of Rs. 17.3 million to the government by prematurely withdrawing funds from six fixed deposit accounts held by the Uva Provincial Council.
Despite being granted bail—set at Rs. 50,000 in cash and five sureties of Rs. 2 million each—Dassanayake will remain in remand custody until April 21, under a separate remand order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
The separate order relates to a second case in which Dassanayake, during his tenure as Chief Minister of the Uva Province, allegedly collected Rs. 1 million for preschools using the Provincial Council’s official letterhead and deposited the funds into his personal bank account.
He has been in remand custody since March 27 in connection with both cases.
