The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (29) ordered the release on bail of three suspects, including a former senior manager of Sathosa, who were arrested on suspicion of causing a loss of over Rs. 1.5 million to the government through the irregular sale of garlic in 2021.
The suspects, arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), were produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
The Bribery Commission informed court that Cabinet approval had been obtained by the then Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardena and Minister of Ports Rohitha Abeygunawardena to sell 54,860 kilograms of garlic, contained in two containers confiscated by Sri Lanka Customs in 2021, to the public at subsidised prices through Sathosa.
However, CIABOC alleged that instead of being sold to the public, the garlic stock had been sold to a private business entity at a lower price without following the prescribed tender procedure.
The Commission further stated that during the relevant period Sathosa sold garlic at Rs. 445 per kilogram, but the stock in question had been sold at Rs. 135 per kilogram, resulting in a government loss of Rs. 176,660 per kilogram.
CIABOC requested the court to remand the suspects, citing ongoing investigations.
Counsel for the defence argued that the decision to sell the garlic was taken at an institutional level and not by the suspects individually. They also informed court that the stock was sold in this manner as it was close to spoiling.
After considering submissions from both sides, the Magistrate ordered the suspects to be released on two surety bonds of Rs. 1 million each and imposed a foreign travel ban on them.
The case was fixed to be recalled on June 9.
