Udayanga Weeratunga granted bail

• The suspect was released on Rs. 2.5 million cash bail and two sureties of Rs. 50 million 

By Yoshitha Perera   

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga was yesterday granted bail by Colombo Fort  Magistrate’s Court.    

When the case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake, the suspect was released on 2.5 million cash bail and two sureties of Rs. 50 million.   However, during the proceedings suspect Weeratunga had not appeared in Courts and representatives from the Attorney General’s Department made objections on granting bail to the suspect. They informed the Magistrate that investigations into the matter have not yet been concluded.

The Magistrate had used the video calling technology to contact the suspect who was currently admitted to the Prison Hospital.   
Accordingly, the Magistrate informed the Court that with the prevailing Covid-19 virus situation in the country he had decided to grant bail to the suspect and ordered the suspect to appear in Court on April 24 to complete the bail conditions.   

Suspect Weeratunga was deported on February 14 to Sri Lanka from Dubai and he was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Katunayake Airport.   
He was arrested over his alleged involvement in financial fraud during the procurement process of four MiG 27 aircrafts and the renovation of three MiG 27 and a MiG 23 aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2006.   
In 2016, the Colombo Fort Magistrates Court issued a Red warrant notice seeking Interpol’s assistance for his arrest. 

The Magistrate informed the Court that with the prevailing Covid-19  virus situation in the country he had decided to grant bail to the  suspect and ordered the suspect to appear in Court on April 24 to  complete the bail conditions