The Colombo High Court has ordered that further evidence in the case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody over an alleged corruption charge be heard on October 5.

The case was taken up today (07) before Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela.

Testifying under the direction of CIABOC Assistant Director General Asitha Anthony, former Chairman of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Buddhika Ruwan Madihahewa, stated that a procurement process was initiated in 2014 to select a bidder for the carpeting of roads at the Ceylon Fertilizer Company’s Hunupitiya warehouse complex. The witness stated that, at the time, the accused, Kumara Jayakody, served as the procurement manager of the company.

Accordingly, the witness stated that a private company was selected through the proper procurement process to carry out the carpeting project, and an advance payment of Rs. 8,859,708 was made to the company against an advance guarantee.

The witness further stated that he approved the payment after examining documents submitted by the procurement and finance divisions confirming that the relevant procurement procedure had been properly followed.

However, acknowledging that the company failed to carry out the carpeting work, the witness stated that raw materials, including stones brought for the project, were left on the company’s premises. He added that subsequently, only Rs. 2,214,921 was recovered under the advance guarantee provided by the company.

Thereafter, a legal officer from the National Audit Office also gave evidence.

Subsequently, the court ordered that further proceedings in the case be adjourned until October 5.