Three including ex-SPC Chief granted bail over 'white van' conference

Three individuals remanded over a controversial news briefing organised by parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne were granted bail today (Jan 6).

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne ordered each of the suspects to be released on two surety bails worth Rs 500,000 each. A travel ban too had been imposed on the suspects.

During today's hearing, the Colombo Magistrate's Court permitted the defendants to provide closed court statements for 15 minutes each.

The suspects were former State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Chairman Mohamed Rumi, and two individuals who had attended the news conference held in the run-up to last year's presidential poll.

The two individuals were arrested after claiming to be drivers of "white vans" used in abducting people before 2015, and vehicles used to transport gold from LTTE-held areas to Colombo.

The former SPC Chairman had been remanded on charges of paying the two individuals who had appeared at the news briefing.