Ex-NLB Chairman released from Bribery Case

COLOMBO (News 1st): Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala on Tuesday (Apr. 27) released Chandrawansa Pathiraja, a Former Chairman of the National Lotteries Board of Sri Lanka (NLB), from the charges filed against him by the Bribery Commission. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed four cases against Chandrawansa Pathiraja for allegedly incurring a loss of Rs. 64 million to the state by awarding the promotional activities pertaining to several lotteries distributed by the National Lotteries Board (NLB) to the private sector, during his tenure in office as the Chairman of the Lotteries Board. When the case was taken up on Tuesday (Apr. 27), the Assistant Director-General at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption pointed out to the court that the case against Chandrawansa Pathiraja had been filed without the approval of the three Commissioners of the Bribery Commission. As such, she informed the court that the charge sheet will be withdrawn on the condition of re-filing legal action. Whilst pointing out that a case can be re-filed against the suspect within 03-months, Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala granted permission to the request and ordered the release of Chandrawansa Pathiraja.