Former Economic Development Secretary and BRF Treasurer arrested, released on bail

Arrests in connection with irregular financial activities during the tenure of the Rajapaksa regime continued apace yesterday, with two lieutenants to the former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa taken into custody over a controversial land deal.

Former Secretary to Minister Rajapaksa Willie Gamage and Treasurer of the Basil Rajapaksa Foundation, Ariyaratne Dahanayake were arrested and released on bail by the Gampaha Additional Magistrate Lalith Kannagara who placed tough bail conditions on the suspects.

The pair was released on monetary bail of Rs. 50,000 each and two sureties of Rs. 4 million each. The Additional Magistrate also banned foreign travel for Gamage and Dahanayake. They were also ordered to report to the FCID on the last day of every month.

They were arrested in connection with a property in Orutota, said to belong to former Minister Rajapaksa. 

Meanwhile Hambantota District Parliamentarian and eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa appeared before the FCID last morning where he was questioned about a property, he claimed belonged to his grandmother in Mount Lavinia. Speaking to the media outside the FCID headquarters at Chatham Street, Colombo, Namal Rajapaksa claimed the Government was putting energy better spent assisting flood victims into victimising the Rajapaksa family.(DB)