'Sil Cloth' case: Weeratunga, Palpita to appeal

Former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and former Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Anusha Palipita, will appeal against their conviction by the Colombo High Court in the 'Sil Cloth' case, their lawyer said yesterday.

President's Counsel Kalinga Indratissa informed the Colombo High Court yesterday after the judgement was delivered that the defendents would file an appeal against the conviction in the Court of Appeal.

Mr Weeratunga and Mr Palpita were each sentenced to three years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) imprisonment by the Colombo High Court after being found guilty in the 'Sil Cloth' case.  

High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga also imposed a fine of Rs.2 million each on the two accused and also ordered them to pay Rs.50 million each as compensation to the TRC.  

They were found guilty of obtaining Rs.600 million in TRC funds and misappropriating them to distribute 'sil cloth' during the last Presidential Election campaign. 

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