The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption instituted legal action against Mr. Sarana Gunawardena, a former Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board, in the year 2022 for directly or indirectly abusing the powers of his position to induce employees of the Development Lotteries Board to illegally release Rs. 1,980,000/- to the landlord as the advance payment of the house the Board rented out in Madiwela and thereby commiting the offence of corruption under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, No. 11 of 1954 as amended by Act No. 20 of 1994 and Act No. 22 of 2018.
The Colombo High Court discharged the respondent after considering the preliminary objection raised on his behalf.
Challenging the said High Court decision, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed a revision application on 21.08.2024. The Court of Appeal took the Revision Application for hearing on 29.08.2024 and, after considering the facts submitted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, decided to issue notice to the respondent.
On behalf of the Bribery Commission, Assistant Director (Legal) Mrs. Anusha Sammandanperuma and Legal Assistant Saranya Jeayaraja appeared before the Court of Appeal.
