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Colombo Chief Magistrate suspends investigations against Ravi K
View(s):Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered a temporary suspension of all orders related to investigations conducted against MP Ravi Karunanayake on charges of giving false evidence before the Bond Commission.
The order was issued after considering submissions made by MP Karunanayake’s attorney, President’s Counsel Shavendra Fernando that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had no legal authority to file such charges. The chief magistrate ordered both parties to file written submissions on September 26 in order to give a ruling on the case. The chief magistrate is to give a ruling on the matter on the September 28.
The CID obtained a court order on September 14 to file charges against MP Karunanayake for giving false evidence before the Bond Commission.
Shavendra Fernando PC raised a preliminary objection against the order, stating that the Bond Commission has ceased to exist, and that the CID had obtained a court order by misusing the powers of the commission.
Responding to a question from the magistrate, PC Fernando pointed out that while the commission could file charges against an individual for giving false evidence before it, others could not.
Senior State Counsel Lakmini Girinagama, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, stated that the CID had presented the facts based on information revealed before the commission and that the Attorney General had the power to conduct investigations based on such information.