Former Acting General Manager of Lanka Sathosa, Wimal Perera, has been sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty on corruption charges.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today delivered the verdict in the case filed against the accused by Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) regarding Rs. 4 million in losses incurred by the government when importing rice to Lanka Sathosa in 2002.
He was also fined Rs 50,000 by the court, which said the defendant will not be ordered to pay compensation as he has been sentenced to prison.
Before the verdict was delivered, the defence counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe PC had informed the court that their client had carried out the act on the instructions of higher officers.
However, the magistrate delivering the verdict stated that the defendant held a top position in Sathosa and therefore had a duty to act with responsibility.
Meanwhile the attorney representing the accused informed the court that they will be appealing the decision.
