Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today lifted the travel ban issued on Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi, despite strong objections from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption.
Avant Garde’s boss -Nissanka Senadhipathi
The magistrate lifted the travel ban on Senadhipathi for an additional surety of Rs. 15 million, granting Senadhipathi permission to travel to Singapore and Germany for a period of one year. Senadhipathi has cited medical reasons for his request to travel overseas.
Senadhipathi is involved in two bribery cases, one involving Avant Garde floating armoury where Senadhipathi and several others including Gotabaya Rajapaksa are alleged to have made a unlawful profit of billions of rupees, and in another case, Senadhipathi is a suspect in offering and accepting a bribe of Rs. 35 million
Early this month, Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya granted permission to Major General Palitha Fernando to travel to Qatar to attend an athletic seminar. Prior to that, the court granted permission to Gotabaya Rajapaksa to travel to China, also for a seminar. They, along with Senadhipathi are currently out on bail in the floating armoury 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 and Senadhipathi. 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.
Sinhala_Man / October 20, 2016
“Medical reasons” cited again! And for a period of one year!!
How foolish now it seems that we rejoiced twenty months ago. These guys globe trot on illegally earned money, at ultimately our expense. And the President whom we trusted thinks that any Sinhalese needs better treatment than a guy belonging to a minority group, and so will allow all this.
We guys can keep protesting, I guess, but nothing seems to be coming of it.
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Dunken Leutheuser / October 20, 2016
Please allow Duminda Silva go abroad and several high profile convicted criminals too to enjoy their life as nothing is wrong though being proved criminals.
Thenonly we can caetegorically say, that this govt too have no wholeheartedness towards anything as they promised – which is to go vehemently against corruption and high profile abuses.
To this date, sadly, we have to see it right, nothing is yet completed among the thousands of cases according to allegations, crystal clear Rajaakshes and other big sharks carried out. No more proof needed.
In the case of Daizy Granny – and her interesting stories about her being offered a bags filled with diamonds and huge sums of funds – and let her to and her grand son to stay free, not just that, allowed him to leave the country for Australia – made us all very clear…
Deyyo denna ona, me wage investigations.. God should see it LET alone today, why these men are permitted to be scot free.
Wasim family is fallen in dark, no justice or the light at the end of tunnel is seen that regard:
Ekanaligoda s is also in dark, the family has all along been mourning not seeing the least justice for their husband, father to have been murdered by Gotabaya men..
All inall, what has the govt investigations revealed sofar..: NOTHING nothing.. NOTHING…
JVPrs are right to have predicted, nothing will be changed even if UNP led men would have been elected – nothing tangibe is seen sofar..
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Seelawathie Jayasinghe / October 20, 2016
IT IS HIGH TIME HIGH CRIMINALS IN ALL PRISONS of the ISLAND, INFORMING THEM THAT THE CURRENT INVESITGATIONS ALLOW THEM TO ROAM MINGLING WITH THE PEOPLE:
THAT MESSAGE SHOULD BE SET IF THE RULERS WOULD STAY AWAY FROM ANY HARD ACTIONS BEING TAKEN AGAINST HIGH CRIMINALS OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME.
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Leelawathie / October 21, 2016
Courts should have their reasons that the average would not see easily.
What are they ?
Where I am – in Germany, they would never allow alleged high crime doers to leave the country – so had it been with former President with his comparably small transactions which he had been dealing with prior to enter presidential office.
Anyways, there should be special REASONS lanken courts nevertheless to react this way.
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Ben Hurling / October 20, 2016
These cases will drag on until the next change of GOSL.
Upon which the AG will withdraw all these cases.
That is the change we’ve been waiting for.
Cheers!
PS:
A year in Germany and Singapore is ample time for a high-flying, well-connected, internationl wheeler dealer of this guy’s nature to cover up a lot of tracks.
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Douglas / October 20, 2016
Pointless directing the accusing finger at the President over this matter. It is “Courts Decision” and on behalf of the Government AG objected vehemently in granting that request. The “Request” is based on “Medical Grounds” to visit Singapore and Germany. If that was the basis on which the Court Decision was made, that Judge must also stipulate a condition of providing the courts with “Authentic Medical Reports” from the “Recognized Medical Authorities” of those countries within a stipulated period of time of his return to Sri Lanka. If that is not complied with , the Judge must impose a penalty of “Forfeiting” that additional surety of Rs. 15 Million. That is how a Judicial System can be made to work in Good Governance and become “Meaningful” in this matter of granting “permission” to travel abroad when there is a “Travel Ban” already imposed. If that is not done, it becomes a “Mockery” and whole of the Judicial System will be “Law of the Wild Ass”. This where the Judicial Service Commission and the Ministry of Justice must step in immediately and correct the situation considering it a “Public Interest” matter.
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thrishu / October 20, 2016
Courts now work according to the beck and call of rogues and criminals. What sort of impotent judges are colluding with rogues. Wonder what commissions these jusdes are receiving?
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Lankan / October 21, 2016
May be this is the reason why UN asked for foreign judges to be involved in war crime inquiries.
It also appears Sri Lankan doctors are incapable of treating any rich patients in Sri Lanka. These doctors are only interested in protesting.
All the hope we had in January when the new government was formed has been dashed.
May be its time for the President to create a mobile court which could travel to other parts in the world and conduct the case as most of the accused are overseas all the time.
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Diogenes / October 21, 2016
The judge should have ordered that the expenses of his travel and hospital bills should be paid by the State, too. Great piece of `JUDGERY` by a court juggler!!
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anonymous / October 21, 2016
What is this Gihan Pilapitiya’s relationship to the Pilapitiya from Kalawana, UNP MP, during the Dudley Senanayaka era?. Danapala Attigala was the MP for Ratnapura then and Sarath Muttetuwagama was Pilapitya’s rival. All of were based in Ratnapura (Amba Gaha Yata) next to the Laxmi Cinema Hall.
I have no respect for this spoilt Gihan bloke at all. I think he is suffering from a severe mental disorder and need help.
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Matilda Ellepola / October 21, 2016
This is definitely DEAL-Dasa R. at work..
what a shame for the yahapalanaya when we have a Dealmaker as the minister of justice and we the masses do not have justice.
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Mudson Silva. / October 21, 2016
Power is the great evil with which we are contending. We have divided power between three branches of government and erected checks and balances to prevent abuse of power. However, where is the check on the power of the judiciary? If we fail to check the power of the judiciary, I predict that we will eventually live under judicial tyranny.
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Yasin / October 21, 2016
This is a Sinhala Buddhist country and we have “live and let live” policy.
They may be crooks but they are human and MS is an ardent Buddhist, so forget and forgive. Also Gota has a huge following which is a threat to the govt. and MS, therefore, it is better see them away from the country than in the country.
An year will of course be extended on “medical grounds”. An year could also see vast changes in the ever volatile political mine field whilst the country is going to the dogs. Politicians, then and now, have made it big for themselves and so have those who served in the armed services and police, specially during the 30 odd years of terrorism.
It was a struggle struggle winning against the LTTE terror group but the war on bribery and corruption will never be won.
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Douglas / October 21, 2016
Today the Additional Magistrate, Colombo, ordered that the former DIG, Mr. Anura Senanayake an accused in the Thajudeen “Murder” case who was in remand custody , but staying in the Merchant Ward, Colombo General be removed from there and brought back to the Prison. The REASON: There was no acceptable medical reasons for such hospitalization. Also, in the same decision, this Magistrate has set a dead line date, 30th of this month to submit the report of the Medical Council pertaining to the ex JMO who conducted the medical inquiry into the death of Thajudeen. This order was issued to Mr. Carlo Fonseka, the Chairman of the Medical Council. Well…… Well DONE, Mr. Magistrate , Nishantha Peiris. Hope this will be a “Bench Mark” standard set for this type of hospitalization and similar requests to travel abroad for “Medical Treatment” by all those who are banned from foreign travel. Also a good “EYE OPENER” for the “Doctor Mafia”.
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Upul / October 21, 2016
I cannot fathom how this judge is giving these scoundrels this type of freedom? There is DEFINITELY a higher arm manipulating the system. Theruwan Saranai and God bless SRI LANKA.
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Lankan / October 22, 2016
When the President made the speech accusing the DG Dilrukshi, she had self respect and resigned her position as President is her boss. We citizens of Sri Lanka are the bosses of the President as we elected him and we are now complaining about his performance, should he too resign?
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