Ravi Karunanayake, others granted bail

Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday granted bail to former Minister Ravi Karunanayake and seven others who had been remanded over the alleged second bond scam, amounting to Rs. 36.98 billion in 2016.

President of the bench Justice Damith Thotawatte and Justice Mohamed Issardeen decided to grant bail, but Justice Manjula Tillakaratne rejected the bail application.

The accused were released on Rs. 1 million cash bail and two surety bail of Rs. 5 million each.

The High Court Trial-at-Bar imposed a travel ban on all the accused.

The court also ordered that one of the sureties should be a close relative.

The court warned that if the defendants attempted to exert influence on the witnesses, by any means, bail would be revoked and the defendants would be placed on remand until the end of the trial.

The case will be taken up again on 11 April.