Sarana Gunawardena’s passport impounded

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) to impound the passport of former Deputy Ministers Sarana Gunawardena.

Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya issued the order when the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed a case against the former Minister Gunawardena this morning. 

In the ‘B’ report submitted to the Magistrate, the Commission filed 50 charges against Gunawardena, over his alleged involvement in fraudulent activities as the Chairman of the National Lottery Board and a Deputy Minister since 2006.

Magistrate Pilapitiya also issued notice on Gunawardena to personally appear before the Court on 11 February.  

Earlier, the DIE also impounded the passports of former External Affairs Ministry Monitoring Sajin Vass Gunawardena and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal on 22 January.