Trial against Rajitha fixed for June 16

By T. Farook Thajudeen   

The Colombo High Court yesterday postponed for June 16, the hearing of the case against former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and two others over the leasing of the Modera Fisheries Harbour to a private Company for an unacceptable sum.  

Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Irshadeen fixed the case to be taken up for trial on June 16 after consulting the prosecution and defence over the viability of the date.   
Dr.  Senaratne who was the former Minister of Fisheries and other two and former Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation (CFHC) Chairman Upali Liyanage and its Managing Director Neil Ravindra Munasinghe were indicted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption for allegedly causing losses to the State while leasing out the Modera Fisheries Harbour to a private Company during the period August 1 to November 1 in 2014.   

The accused were indicted under Section 70 of the Bribery Act on five charges for causing losses to the government by persuading the Director Board of the CFHC to let the Modera Fisheries Harbour to a private company for an unacceptable sum.   

When the case was taken up for inquiry before High Court Judge Mohamed Irshadeen the accused were present. Anil Silva PC, K. V. Thavarasha PC defended Dr. Senaratne on the instructions of Mrs. Gowry Sangary Thavarasha while Sampath Mendis PC defended Upali Liyanage and Senior Counsel Ranjan De Silva defended the third accused Neil Ravindra De Silva during the inquiry.