One suspect connected to the bond scam arrested, CID operations underway to arrest remaining suspects

COLOMBO (News 1st):-  Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today (March 7) ordered for Mutturaja Surendran, a Director of the Perpetual Treasuries Limited to be remanded, until March 18th. He was arrested by the CID and was charged with fraudulent criminal misappropriation of Rs. 51.98 billion at two Central Bank bond auctions in 2016. The bond auctions took place on the 29th of March and the 31st of March 2016. Yesterday (March 6) the Fort Magistrate's Court issued warrants for the immediate arrest of Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake and 09 others over the Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam.

• Arjuna Mahendran
• Arjun Aloysius
• Kasun Palisena
• Geoffrey Joseph Aloysius
• Ranjan Hulugalle
• Muthuraja Surendran
• Ajan Punchihewa
• Sangarapillai Padumanappan
• Indika Samankumara were among the other suspects.

Summons were issued on Perpetual Treasuries Limited, the first suspect in the case. Meanwhile, the political arena responded to the legal action taken against the suspects connected to the bond scam. Former UPFA MP, Thenuka Vidanagamage says;

"This cannot stop here. The mastermind behind this scam must be arrested. Investigations must be continued into the scam. Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot escape from this."

Former Provincial Councillor of the JVP, Samantha Vidiyarathne said;

"We do not understand why the Rajapaksa Government is trying to protect Ranil Wickremesinghe. We don't understand why they are punishing everyone else other than Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ranil Wickremesinghe laid a red carpet and welcomed Arjuna Mahendran and Arjun Aloysius to the Central Bank."

Former MP Manusha Nanayakkara also speaking on the issue said;

"All of this is an act. The suspects involved in the Airbus scandal were granted bail. A person who committed sexual abuse was released. When an election is drawing near these people suddenly start to remember these things and start making arrests. The election acting has begun again. The people have to decide if they are going to be fooled by this act or not."

Meanwhile the Convener of the Voice Against Corruption, Wasantha Samarasinghe also voiced his concerns on the matter;

"They will be arrested soon as arrest warrants have been issued against them. The orders to arrest these suspects were issued after parliament was dissolved. The government at the end of 100 days in power had nothing more to do so they used the bond scam for the election. We would like to say that the arrests made in connection to the bond scam are good but we have a problem with the fact that the mastermind behind the scam was allowed to go scot-free. Also, there are a few masterminds on the other side as well. So don't just write scripts for the general election, enforce the law of the country, and get back the money that was stolen."

He added;

"To stop Ranil Wickremesinghe from being arrested they are not bringing down Arjuna Mahendran. We would like to say that if this government has a backbone they must bring down Arjuna Mahendran before the general election. I don't think they can do it."