CJ appoints two Trials-at-Bar

By Hansi Nanayakkara

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya has appointed two separate High Court Trials-at-Bar Benches, to hear the Bonds scam cases involving the Treasury Bonds Auctions of March 2016, stated the Attorney General’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne yesterday (18).

Hence, the first Trial-at-Bar, comprising Justices Damith Thotawata, Manjula Thillakaratne and M. Irasadeen, would preside over the case filed against ex-Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake, former Governor of the CBSL Arjuna Mahendran, head of primary dealer PTL Private Limited Arjun Aloysius, its CEO Kasun Palisena, its Directors, Executive Officer of the State Loan Department attached to the CBSL S. Pathumanathan and an Executive Officer of the EPF Department Indika Saman Kumara, pertaining to the scam that took place during the Treasury Bond Auction of 29 March five years ago.

The second Trial-At-Bar, comprising Justices Amal Ranaraja, Namal Balalle and Adithya Patabendige will hear the case filed against Karunanayake, Mahendran, Aloysius and seven others connected to the scam that occurred during the Treasury Bond Auction of 31 March five years ago.

AG Dappula de Livera had stated the actions of each of the aforesaid accused had resulted in the State suffering massive financial losses and hence had affirmed that they should be legally held accountable for their actions. 

The AG requested for a Trial-at-Bar for the case on 11 February, 2021, to try ex- Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, former Governor of Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran, Arjun Aloysius, and seven others with regard to the relevant trial.

Subsequently, on 15 February, he made a request for another Trial-At-Bar to hear the relevant case.Accordingly, CJ Jayasuriya has appointed two separate Trials-At-Bar to hear the case.