Bribery Commission to record statements from former Moratuwa Council Members

The Bribery Commission informed the Colombo Magistrate's Court today (23) that it is taking steps to record statements from both former and current officers and council members of the Moratuwa Municipal Council.

This action is related to the case where former Mayor Saman Lal Fernando allegedly caused a loss to the government by improperly allocating Rs. 105 million in funds to favoured contractors for road development.

According to the Bribery Commission, their investigation has revealed that the former mayor's actions and pressure on officials resulted in many of them seeking transfers.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today ordered the release of former Moratuwa Mayor Samanlal Fernando on bail. Fernando was previously remanded after being arrested by the Bribery Commission in connection with the same case.

The Magistrate ordered the suspect's release on three personal bails of Rs. 1 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 50,000. The court also prohibited the suspect from traveling abroad.

The investigation began after a complaint was filed with the Presidential Secretariat in 2013 by a group of former council members. The Bribery Commission stated that the Ministry of Ports and Highways had allocated Rs. 105 million to the Moratuwa Municipal Council for urban and rural road development.

Despite being instructed to follow government financial circulars or to carry out the projects directly through the council, the former mayor allegedly acted against the Municipal Council Ordinance and financial regulations. He is accused of illegally intervening to pay the funds to parties he favoured, instead of the contracted ones.

While investigating officers requested that the suspect be remanded due to concerns that he could influence witnesses, the Magistrate granted him bail after considering the arguments from both the investigators and the suspect's lawyer.