By Ruwan Weerakoon, Investigative Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -25 Oct 2026,5.00 A.M.) Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Boddaragama ordered (23) that Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Siriwardane, a former director of Krrish Transworks, be remanded in custody until November 6. The case concerns an alleged Rs. 70 million bribe taken when the Colombo Fort Transworks Square land was leased to the Krrish company.
In rejecting the suspects' bail application, the Magistrate noted that the Bribery Commissioner's certificate under Section 149(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act had been submitted to court, so bail could be granted only on exceptional circumstances. He ruled that the grounds raised by the defence could not be accepted as exceptional and dismissed the application.
Appearing for suspect Namal Rajapaksa, President's Counsel Ali Sabry argued that pursuing the case with the Commissioner's certificate was driven by political considerations. He further alleged that certificates under Section 149 are issued selectively, applied to some people while others are spared.
When the case was called, the Bribery Commission disclosed several important facts to the court.
The allegation: The Rs. 70 million is alleged to have been paid as a bribe to speed up the approval needed to transfer Colombo Fort's Transworks Square, owned by the Urban Development Authority, to Krrish Transworks (Pvt) Ltd.
The accused: The complaint names the company's Indian national directors at the time, Amit Katiyar and Rajendra Prasad Gupta, along with Janaki Siriwardane and Namal Rajapaksa, named as the third and fourth suspects.
The money trail: The Commission told the court that bank records show the Rs. 70 million was paid in three instalments.
Witnesses Break Their Silence
Updating the court on the investigation, the Commission said that with the suspects now in remand, several former Krrish employees who had earlier been afraid and reluctant to testify have given statements without fear. Two witnesses have already given statements, and several documents supporting their evidence have been submitted to court.
Further investigations led the Bribery Commission to name Aishwarya Soni, who served as a director of Krrish Transworks (Pvt) Ltd, as the sixth suspect. Her role emerged from the company's own records. A certificate under Section 149 of the Anti-Corruption Act has also been issued in her case by the Commission's Director General.
The court was also told that handwriting samples of the fourth suspect have been sent for examination.
Investigations Widen
So far, a statement has been recorded from the Divisional Secretary of Colombo 12 (Wellawidiya). Statements are yet to be recorded from:
The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority
The Survey Department
HSBC Bank
Next Hearing: November 6
Citing the ongoing investigations, the Commission asked that the suspects be kept in remand. After considering all the submissions, the Chief Magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded until November 6.
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by (2026-10-24 23:59:59)
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