Sugeeshwara Bandara further remanded until August 25

Sugeeshwara Bandara, the former private secretary of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and leader of the Nava Janatha Peramuna, who is in remand custody over a case of receiving salaries for two positions under the presidential expenditure head, was ordered to be further remanded until August 25 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Nuwan Kaushalya today (12).

The court rejected bail, noting that no special circumstances were presented to warrant bail for the suspect, and remanded the suspect again. The Central Criminal Investigation Bureau presented facts to the court regarding the incident.

The lawyer appearing for the suspect requested that his client be released on bail, stating that he was remanded on June 14 and spent more than 54 days in prison. Furthermore, the lawyer requested the court to consider granting bail as medical reports show that his client's daughter developed depression and receives treatment in hospital.

Presenting further facts to the court regarding the incident, the lawyer stated:
"Since 2020 to date, my client suffers from a medical condition involving blood poisoning. He also suffers from a white blood cell-related medical condition. This condition worsened while in prison. The relevant medical reports were submitted to the court. Furthermore, his 11-year-old daughter developed post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition worsened because her father was imprisoned, and she receives treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital. Additionally, his 12-year-old son is severely depressed. Even his wife's behaviour changed, and she is in severe mental distress because the client is imprisoned.

My client functioned as the secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from 2019 until June 19, 2022. He assumed duties as the Project Director General only after leaving that service on June 22, 2022. Accordingly, it appears there are no charges against my client. I request the court to grant bail considering these factors as special circumstances."

At that moment, the investigating officers appearing for the Central Investigation Bureau informed the court that although lawyers for the suspect's party presented medical reports to the court in the same manner on two previous occasions, bail was rejected. The investigating officers requested the court to further remand the suspect as further investigations are being conducted regarding the incident and the investigation takes place under the Offences Against Public Property Act.

Considering the facts, the Magistrate stated that extraordinary circumstances are considered to grant bail regarding the incident, and noted that the facts presented concerning the daughter, son, and wife do not constitute special circumstances.