Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage Wednesday (10) acquitted Lanka Sathosa’s former chairman Venura Gunawardena of all charges framed against him. Gunawardena and former Lanka Sathosa Manager Indika Hemal Rathnamalla were charged with embezzling more than Rs.31 million while at Lanka Sathosa.
When the case was taken up before the Fort Magistrate Court, the Magistrate said ordered him to be acquitted of all charges on the advice of the Attorney General.
According to a complaint made by Premila Jeewantha Fernando to the Financial Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department, the CID arrested Venura Gunawardena and Indika Hemal and later released them on bail.
Both of them appeared in court, when the case was taken up on Wednesday. It is stated in the complaint that after moving to England in 2007, the plaintiff bought a bus, three cars and a van and handed over the bus to a person he knew, Deepika Amaradasa. It is also stated in the complaint that she returned the bus due to the Covid pandemic and through her, Indika Hemal Rathnamalla was identified.
After that, it is mentioned that the above amount was given on seven occasions and on one occasion Rs.450,000 was credited to the account of Venura Gunawardena. It is also stated in the complaint that the money was given on the promise of providing dividends and dividends were received on several occasions.
The Criminal Investigation Department had sought the advice of the Attorney General and accordingly the Attorney General has informed that it is not possible to pursue charges against Venura Gunawardena.The case against the suspect, Indika Hemal Rathnamalla, is still ongoing.
Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered that the case be called again on November 01 for further reports.
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