Lalith Weeratunga Denied Overseas Travel by Colombo HC

Former Secretary to the then President  Mahinda Rajapakshe cum Chairman of TRC,  Lalith Weeratunga and Director General of the TRC, Anuisha  Palpita were charged in a case filed alleging that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) had spent Rs.600 million to distribute ‘Sil Cloth’ to the people as part of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election campaign in 2015.

On September 07, Weeratunga and Palpita were found guilty by the Colombo High Court in the ‘Sil Cloth’ case and each sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment.  They were also fined Rs 2 million each and ordered to pay Rs 50 million each to the TRC as compensation.

However, on September 11 attorneys representing the former Presidential Secretary and former TRC Director General filed a petition against the verdict delivered by the Colombo High Court.

The lawyers filed the petition with the Court of Appeal, seeking a court order annulling the verdict delivered by the High Court.

The appeal court case is pending. Meanwhile Lalith Weeratunga has submitted an application in  the Colombo High Court to grant him permission  to travel abroad.

The Colombo High Court had informed the Attorney General’s Department to make submissions today (20), for the bail application submitted by Lalith Weeratunga and Anusha

The Colombo High Court rejected the request made by former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga to travel overseas during court proceedings earlier today (29).