Johnston Granted Bail In Procurement Controversy at Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Minister Johnston Fernando, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on charges of committing the offence of corruption and aiding and abetting the commission of that offence, was released on bail after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

Former Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando was arrested by the Bribery Commission this morning on allegations of committing corruption and aiding and abetting the commission of corruption.

The arrest was linked to allegations surrounding the procurement of chairs for the Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium in Polgolla, where authorities claim arrangements were made to purchase the chairs from a company named Design Point (Pvt) Ltd. instead of obtaining them from the institution that had submitted the lowest compliant bid meeting the required standards.

As a result of the alleged procurement irregularity, a loss of Rs. 7,973,114.50 is said to have been caused to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).

The owner of Design Point (Pvt) Ltd., Patabendige Hemantha Lalith de Silva, was also arrested as a suspect in connection with the same investigation.

The suspects were subsequently produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

Thereafter, former Minister Johnston Fernando and Patabendige Hemantha Lalith de Silva were released on bail.