AG to inform court on decision regarding exoneration of RK from CB bond case

By T.Farook Thajudeen  

The three trial–at-bar judges of the Colombo High Court yesterday directed the Attorney General  to inform the Court whether the Attorney General would appeal against an appeal Court order to discharge former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake from the Perpetual Treasuries Bond case.  

The three Judges Damith  Totawatte, Manjula Thilakaratna and Mohamed Irshadeen consequent to Counsel defending Ravi Karunanayake submitting  court that the Court of Appeal after hearing a writ petition filed in the Court of Appeal by Ravi Karunanayake had maintained that the High Court case filed against Ravi Karunanayeka cannot be maintained and he should be discharged from all charges against him.  

However state Counsel objecting stated that the Attorney can appeal against the Appeal Court decision within the stipulated period of  time. The State Counsel also informed the court that there are 42 days more for the Attorney General to take a decision and to allow the Attorney General to consider it.  
The Court postponed the case for June 20 for the Attorney General to   inform the Court over his decision.  
The Attorney General has framed indictments against ex-Finance  

Minister Ravi Karunanayake, ex-Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran,  and officials of a primary dealer in government securities, requesting   trial by a Special High Court to inquire over the Central Bank bond   case.  

Charges had also been framed against Chairman of Perpetual Treasuries   Arjun Aloysius, Chief Executive Kasun Palisena, Directors, and   Sangarapillai Padumanathan, an executive officer at the Public Debt   Department of the Central Bank and Indika Saman Kumara, from the   Employees Provident Fund. They have been charged in relation to a bond   auction held on March 29, 2016.  

Charges were framed for violating the penal code, encouraging and   conspiring to misappropriate public property .