Former Opposition Leader of Central Provincial Council granted bail

Colombo, March 28 (Daily Mirror) – Former Opposition Leader of the Central Provincial Council, Don Harindra Chanaka Illapperuma, who was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 350,000 by promising government jobs, was released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today.  

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) had arrested Illapperuma and produced him before the Kandy Magistrate’s Court, where he was initially remanded until March 28. He was accused of soliciting and accepting Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 150,000, respectively, by falsely promising jobs at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Ceylon Electricity Board.  

As all investigations related to these charges have been completed, the court granted bail with a Rs. 500,000 surety per charge, totaling Rs. 1 million. Additionally, a travel ban was imposed on the suspect.  

The case originated from complaints filed in 2019 by two individuals. Investigations revealed that Illapperuma had allegedly accepted Rs. 200,000 from one complainant in exchange for securing employment for his son and daughter at the Ceylon Electricity Board. He had also allegedly demanded Rs. 150,000 from another complainant, promising a job at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.  

During the hearing, the defense counsel stated that the suspect had admitted to his wrongdoing and had returned the bribe money to the complainants.