The fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by Supun Shashendra Pathirage, the former chairman of the Central Environment Authority (CEA), challenging his arrest over alleged bribery, has been summarily dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Pathirage, along with two others, was apprehended by Bribery Commission officers on charges of soliciting a bribe amounting to Rs. 10 million. The alleged incident occurred within the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, relating to a project overseen by the CEA. Despite being granted bail subsequently, Pathirage pursued a FR petition contesting the legality of his arrest.
The respondents named in the petition include the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), its chairman Eva Wanasundera, and other commission members.
Pathirage contends that his refusal to renew a license for a marine fuel refining operation led to political and external pressures to approve the application. He maintains that his arrest, allegedly for soliciting the bribe in connection with the license, was unjust.
In his plea to the Supreme Court, Pathirage seeks a declaration that his arrest by the Bribery Commission was motivated by malicious intent, resulting in a violation of his fundamental rights.
Following his arrest, Pathirage was suspended from service on November 12, only to be released on bail the subsequent day.
