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Lalith Weeratunga, Anusha Palpita indicted for alleged misappropriation of Rs. 600m
View(s):The Colombo High Court on Friday (18) directed former President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and former Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (SLTRC), Director General Anusha Palpita to appear before Court on October 7.
The two officials who served under the former regime have been indicted by the Attorney General (AG) in connection with the misappropriation of Rs 600 million from the SLTRC, between the period October 30, 2014 and January 5, 2015.
The accused had allegedly claimed that the money was for distributing sil redi (clothing worn while engaged in Buddhist religious observances).
However, despite their claims, the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) investigations revealed that the two officials hadtransferred the money to a personal account belonging to the President’s Secretary.
According to the indictment filed by the AG, the accused have been charged under Section 21 Public Property act of 1982 And the SLTRC Act no 25 of 1991.
Earlier on Monday (14), Colombo High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena decided to take up the case on Friday (18) and requested the AG to produce the initial reports of the Magistrate’s Court and the Court productions on that date.
The Respondents to the case include Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya and the former President’s Coordinating Secretary (Religious Affairs) Ven. Vatinapane Somananda Thera.