The Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar today (28) ordered prison authorities to produce Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa before the court on November 19 in connection with the Airbus bribery case.
The case, filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), was taken up before a three-judge bench headed by judge Priyantha Liyanage.
MP Rajapaksa, who is currently in custody, was produced before the court by prison officials.
However, lawyers representing the Bribery Commission were absent, as they had not been notified of the hearing.
A legal team led by President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwhetty appeared for MP Rajapaksa on the instructions of Attorney-at-Law Sanath Wijewardena.
Ladduwhetty informed the court that the defence intended to file a bail application after the Bribery Commission officials handling the prosecution appeared before the court.
Following the submissions, the court postponed the case until November 19 and directed prison authorities to produce MP Rajapaksa before the court on that date.
The case relates to alleged bribery in connection with the purchase of Airbus aircraft by SriLankan Airlines. The Bribery Commission has filed charges against Namal Rajapaksa, and several others in connection with the matter.
