Chamara Sampath Dassanayake granted bail in four bribery cases

Member of Parliament Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and his former secretary have been granted bail in four bribery cases brought by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered their release on two surety bonds of Rs. 1 million each for each of the four cases, while also imposing overseas travel bans.

The cases involve allegations that Dassanayake accepted various sums of money from gem businessmen to allow their operations to continue without interference during his tenure as State Minister of Primary Industries. These four cases are scheduled to be heard again on January 26.

However, the court rejected bail applications in a fifth separate bribery case involving allegations of accepting Rs. 8.1 million from three private companies regarding phosphate export licences. Dassanayake and his former secretary remain in custody in connection with this matter until November 6.