SARANA GUNAWARDENA'S BRIBERY CASE HEARD IN HIGH COURT

The bribery case filed against Sarana Gunawardena, an organiser for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and a former Member of Parliament, was taken up for hearing before the Colombo High Court yesterday (30).

The accused made a statement from the dock during the proceedings.

Subsequently, the defence named three witnesses to testify on their behalf. High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwida ordered a summons to be issued for these witnesses, directing them to appear before the court on August 26.

The bribery case alleges that between 2007 and 2008, while serving as the Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board, Gunawardena obtained a vehicle on a lease basis from an individual named Senarath Hettiarachchi, causing a loss of Rs. 960,000 to the institution.

In addition to this case, two other cases filed against Gunawardena, related to the alleged misuse of vehicles during his tenure as Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board, are currently being heard before High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne.