Court orders further reports in Keheliya, former DIG corruption case

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered the Bribery Commission today (21) to submit further reports on November 20 regarding the case filed against former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and former Deputy Inspector General of Police Sumith Ranasinghe attached to the Criminal Investigation Department over corruption allegations.

The order followed submissions presented by the Bribery Commission. The first suspect, Sumith Prasad Ranasinghe, appeared in open court, while the second suspect, former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, was absent, and his lawyer presented facts to the court regarding his absence.

The lawyer representing the second suspect stated that former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was currently attending a hearing at the High Court. As investigation activities remain ongoing, the Bribery Commission requested a future court date.

Investigation officers informed the court that the suspects were arrested in connection with the theft of the Sandagala archaeological artifact, which is an important national heritage item. Authorities filed charges against the suspects for stealing the historical artifact valued for its archaeological significance, which consisted of the entrance stairway of the palace of Sri Weeraparakrama Narendrasinghe, the final king of the Sinhala dynasty belonging to the Kandyan period, located at the Kuduwandawala Udamaluwa archaeological site.