Alleged Korean Trip Surfaces in Bribery Case Against Former Minister Rajitha

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodagama was informed yesterday that former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne and members of his family allegedly undertook a trip to Korea soon after the controversial Kirinda Fisheries Harbour sand mining project was awarded to a Korean company, a deal said to have caused a loss of over Rs. 200 million to the government.
Assistant Director (Legal) of the Bribery Commission, Sulochana Hettiarachchi, revealed in court that the Korean visit had come to light following a statement given by Senaratne himself to the Commission on September 3. She argued that the trip, allegedly facilitated by the Korean company involved in the project, warranted further investigation and that releasing the suspect on bail could allow him to exert undue influence on potential witnesses, including family members and former Fisheries Corporation officials.
Rajitha Senaratne, who had been in hiding for over two months despite warrants issued against him, was recently produced before court by prison officials after being remanded in a related High Court case. The Bribery Commission stressed that even bringing him before court had required a special order and requested that he remain in custody until all relevant statements were recorded.
However, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne, appearing on behalf of Senaratne, countered that the Korean visit was not a clandestine affair but an official trip undertaken only by Senaratne and his wife at the invitation of the company. He insisted that there was no evidence his client had influenced any witnesses and urged the court to grant bail, pointing out that his client had now cooperated with the judicial process.
After considering submissions from both sides, Chief Magistrate Bodagama ordered the release of Rajitha Senaratne on bail, with 30 sureties of Rs. 2 million each, in addition to a cash bail of Rs. 50,000. A travel ban was also imposed.
The case, centered on allegations that the awarding of the Kirinda sand mining project to a Korean company resulted in heavy financial losses to the state, will be taken up again on October 10.