Alleged use of SPC funds to pay Keheliya’s mobile phone bill: Order on Keheliya’s objections postponed

• Keheliya was not present in court as he is in remand over another case 
• Bribery Commission alleges misuse of Rs.230,984

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The delivery of the order pertaining to the objections  raised by former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in connection with  a corruption case filed by the Bribery Commission was yesterday  postponed for March 7 by the Colombo High Court.       

The Director General of the Commission to Investigate  Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed this corruption case  against former Cabinet Minister Rambukwella and former State Pharmaceutical  Corporation (SPC) Chairman Jayampathi Bandara Heenkenda for allegedly  causing an unlawful loss of Rs.230,984 to the government after paying  Minister’s one-month mobile phone bill using SPC funds while  functioning as the Mass Media Minister in 2012.  

When the matter came up before Colombo High Court Judge  Damith Thotawatte, the former Minister was not present before court. Defence  Counsel informed court that his client has been remanded over another  court case and currently receiving treatment at the Prison Hospital.  Meanwhile, the High Court judge issued an order directing the prison  authorities to produce former Minister Rambukwella before court if he is  healthy enough to attend court on the next hearing date.  The Bribery Commission alleged that Minister  Rambukwella, while serving as the Mass Media Minister had induced the former SPC chairman to pay his mobile phone  bill from March 15, 2012, to April 14, 2012, causing an unlawful loss to  the government.   

The Bribery Commission had named former (SPC) Jayampathi  Bandara Heenkenda as an accused of aiding and abetting to commit the  offence.        

• The Bribery Commission had named former (SPC) Jayampathi  Bandara Heenkenda as an accused of aiding and abetting