Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today granted permission to Major General Palitha Fernando to travel to Doha, Qatar to attend an athletic seminar, despite a travel ban initially imposed.
Palitha Fernando
Fernando is currently released on bail over his alleged involvement in a multibillion rupee scandal at Avant Garde. He was issued with a travel ban, however the Magistrate has lifted the travel ban temporarily on an additional surety bail of Rs. 5 million.
Accordingly, the Court has granted Fernando permission to travel to Doha from October 24 to November 4.
Fernando is the second person in the case who has been granted to travel overseas despite being on bail. Earlier, the court granted permission to former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to travel to China, also for a seminar. He too is currently out on bail in the case.
In August, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption filed a case at the Colombo Magistrate Court against Rajapaksa, and seven others including Fernando. The eight suspects have been charged for allowing Avant Garde to maintain a floating armoury, thereby resulting in them making an unlawful profit of Rs. 11. 4 billion.
Ajith / October 11, 2016
This is a secret matter for Srilankan politics. People should not ask questions or comment about the justice system in Srilanka.
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Don Stanley / October 11, 2016
Who is this corrupt Colombo Magistrate Gihan Pilapitya?!
Sri Lankans need to demand ECONOMIC RIGHTS AND JUSTICE and stop paying taxes to the Ranil-Sira Jarapalanay Govt. and the IMF who looks after global 1 percent.
People who steal billions like Arjuna Mahendran and the Avant Guard crooks fly in and out while a poor person who steals a coconut is penalized. The entire judicial system of Sri Lanka seems corrupt.
Why have all the crooks who indulge in financial crimes including Namal Rajapaksa been released to travel overseas and hide their off shore bank accounts to more safe havens? These funds should be traced and returned to Lanka and the IMF should do this.
Pilapitiya must be a Gota Jarapassa man who is playing games while Ranil-Sira Jarapalanaya turn a blind eye!
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thrishu / October 11, 2016
Given all the freedom to go and hide their foreign bank accounts.
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