The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s today issued an order temporarily suspending all the orders issued by the court with regard to the CID’s investigation against MP Ravi Karunanayake, for allegedly providing false information to the Bond Commission.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court had issued several directives in connection with the investigation based on a request made by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on September 14.

President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando, appearing on behalf of  Global Transportation and Logistic - a company under investigation, submitting a motion to the court today (21) stated that the court has no authority to issue the orders requested by the CID with regard to the investigation.

He stated that as per the Special Presidential Commissions Inquiry Act, the Attorney General can only file a case regarding information uncovered before the commission and that the orders issued in connection with this investigation are related to an external factor.

Therefore the attorney requested from the court to suspend these orders. However, the senior state attorney appearing on behalf of the CID, Lakmini Girihagama, argued that the court does have the power to issue directives for such investigations.

After considering the facts presented, the Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake stated that the decision on this request will be announced on September 28. All orders issued by the court on the request of the CID with relation to the investigation were suspended by the Chief Magistrate until that date.