The case filed by the Bribery Commission against eight persons over the Avant-Garde illegal floating armoury case has been fixed for September 20.
During today’s hearing, Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne was informed that the Appeal Court has suspended hearings until July 28.
Meanwhile, lawyers appearing for former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Avant-Garde Chairman Nishshanka Senadhipathi, two of the accused in the case, told court that their clients were receiving medical treatment overseas.
The suspects have been accused of causing Rs 11.4 billion worth losses to the government by allowing the operation of an illegal floating armoury run by Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd.
Chief Magistrate Jayaratne had permitted the case to be heard in the absence of second accused Sujatha Damayanthi, the former Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
According to the prosecution, the eight suspects could be charged under Section 70 of the Bribery Act over the offence they had committed between August 2012 and January 2015.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Read this week’s Sunday Times for your interesting articles including the ’’5th Column’’.
In its first electoral test since taking power, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) fell short of expectations, winning only around 40 % of the national vote in Tuesday’s local government election and falling short of enough seats to gain control of the majority of councils.
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