Second Special High Court commences hearings today

The newly-established Second Special High Court will commence its initial hearings today after summons were issued on a former specialist doctor at the Kuliyapitiya Base Hospital for a bribery case yesterday (May 21).

The case involved a doctor who solicited a bribe of Rs 75,000 from the owner of a medical laboratory in order to award the tender to set-up a laboratory within the hospital.

Colombo Commercial High Court Judge R. Gurusinghe, Colombo High Court Judge Shashi Mahendran and Meegamuwa High Court judge Amal Ranaraja formed the judge bench which would hear the case.

Summons were issued on the former specialist doctor identified as Chandrasiri Tennakoon for soliciting monthly bribes of Rs 25,000 to award a laboratory tender between June 1, 2016 and August 31, 2016. The bribes had amounted upto Rs 75,000 by the end of August.

A total of 28 case objects including documents would be filed as evidence against the accused doctor. The Bribery Commission yesterday (May 21) informed court that it hopes to summon 25 persons including the Director of the Kuliyapitiya Base Hospital to provide witness statements on the case.

The Second Special High Court was declared open by Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorale on March 14.

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