Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyan Warushawithana today ordered the remand of Welimada District Magistrate’s Court registrar, Eranda Sajith Ranasinghe, until January 27 over allegations of accepting a Rs. 500,000 bribe.
The Bribery Commission produced Ranasinghe before court, stating that he had demanded the bribe from a complainant to expedite the implementation of a court order granting possession of a land. According to investigators, the complainant had initially paid Rs. 100,000, and Ranasinghe was arrested while receiving the remaining amount. CCTV footage reportedly captured the suspect accepting the money within the court complex.
The suspect’s lawyer argued that Ranasinghe, a public officer with over twelve years of service, had no involvement in such acts and that there was no evidence linking him to the alleged bribe. The lawyer requested bail.
After considering the submissions, the Magistrate remanded Ranasinghe until January 27. The registrar was first arrested by the Bribery Commission on December 30 and had been in remand since then following his appearance before the Welimada Magistrate’s Court.
