SC overturns CA ruling: Grants special leave to appeal to Bribery Commission in case against Ravi K

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka yesterday (24) granted special leave to appeal in the bribery case against Yahapalana Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake. The former Minister allegedly received an apartment from Arjun Aloysius, a Director of primary dealer, Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., at the centre of the Treasury bond scams.

The SC order was issued in respect of submission of a special leave to appeal application by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The CIABOC challenged an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal overruled a preliminary objection raised by CIABOC that the accused, Karunanayake, did not have the right to appeal against an interim order of the High Court.

The legal wrangle began in the High Court, where Karunanayake’s defence counsel argued that he could not be considered a ‘public servant’ under the Bribery Act. They pointed to Article 170 of the Constitution, which excludes Ministers from the definition of ‘public officer.’ However, the High Court rejected this argument, ruling that the former Minister of Finance falls within the scope of a ‘public servant’ and could, therefore, be indicted under the Bribery Act.