Yoshitha denied bail
By Ishara Ratnakara
2016-02-12
Kaduwela Magistrate Dhammika Ganepola yesterday ordered five suspects including Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who have been in remand custody for 12 days on charges of money laundering at the CSN network, to be further remanded until 25 February.The Magistrate rejected a bail plea by their attorneys.The five suspects arrested by the FCID on 30 January were Yoshitha Rajapaksa (UPFA and SLFP Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa's second son), former CEO of CSN network Nishantha Ranatunga, CSN Director Rohan Welivita (MP Mahinda Rajapaksa's Media Secretary), Asan Ravinath Fernando and Sachithra Kavishan Dissanayake respectively.
FCID officials told Court that five cell phones had been confiscated from the five suspects and for further analysis the cell phones had been given to the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).
Security was beefed up around the Court premises yesterday to preempt any breach of the peace.
The suspects were brought to the Kaduwela Magistrate Court under joint Police and Prison security, reaching Court premises at 9.15 a.m.
The suspects were handcuffed until such time as they were ushered into Court for the hearing to proceed. They were held in a room in Court premises until then.
Former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was seen arriving at the Court followed by the former President and MPs of the Joint Opposition almost simultaneously.
When Court opened the alleged money laundering at CSN was the first case to be taken for hearing.
The suspects then stepped into the dock. Attorney for the respondents, Presidents Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe requested Court to grant bail for the suspects in the case.
