Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama rejected a request made by counsel for Shadhika Lakshani, the wife of alleged drug trafficker Backhoe Saman, to relax her bail conditions in connection with an investigation under the Money Laundering Act.
Lakshani had been granted bail on the condition that she report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Sunday. Her counsel requested that this requirement be reduced to the last Sunday of each month, citing that she has a small child. The magistrate rejected the request.
When the case was taken up, officers appearing on behalf of the CID submitted a further ‘B’ report to court, stating that gold items valued at approximately Rs. 8.4 million had been found in the possession of the suspect.
The CID further informed court that investigations are ongoing into four bank accounts allegedly belonging to Lakshani, with deposits exceeding Rs. 8 million. It was also revealed that 13 bank accounts belonging to her close relatives have been frozen.
Investigations have allegedly revealed that Lakshani is involved in drug trafficking and that large sums of money were transferred to the bank accounts of her father and sister during 2024 and 2025, while she was overseas.
Shadhika Lakshani, who had been released on bail, appeared before court when the case was called.
The magistrate fixed the case for further reports on May 7.
