Piyadasa Dissanayake files bail application

Colombo (News 1st) - Former Timber Corporation Chairman Piyadasa Dissanayake who is currently serving 12 years of rigorous imprisonment after he was found guilty of a bribery case, filed a bail application with the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today. The application will be called up on the 17th of February in the presence of Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijertne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne. On the 19th of December 2019, former president’s Chief of Staff Dr I K Mahanama and former Timber Corporation Chairman Piyadasa Dissanayake were found guilty by the Permanent High Court Trial at Bar, for soliciting a bribe. Piyadasa Dissanayake was sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and was fined Rs 55,000 after he was found guilty of 11 counts. Dr Kusumdasa Mahanama was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 65,000. He was ordered to re-pay to the state the Rs 20 Million he solicited as a bribe. They were found guilty on 13 separate indictments including soliciting a bribe of Rs 20mn from the head of the Sri Lanka Sugar Company to approve the hand-over of buildings and steel owned by the Kantale Sugar Factory.