Driver in Thalawa bus accident remanded amid investigations
Former Director-General of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority and current Managing Director of Cargills Agro Solutions – Keerthi B. Kotagama, has filed an anticipatory bail application before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Nov. 10.
The anticipatory application application comes amid concerns that he may be apprehended by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with investigations on former State Minister – Shasheendra Rajapaksa over alleged criminal misappropriation of public property.
The bail request was submitted through his lawyer – Attorney-At-Law Hansi Athukorala, who informed the court that the CIABOC had summoned Kotagama to provide a statement on Nov. 11 regarding the investigation.
The attorney emphasized that her client, who served as Director-General of the Mahaweli Authority from 2021 to 2023, had acted only as per the directives of the then subject minister and had not influenced officials of the Mahaweli Authority over compensation payments made to Rajapaksa.
She further noted that Kotagama currently holds a senior position at Cargills, one of Sri Lanka’s leading retail chains, and requested that anticipatory bail be granted to ensure his release if apprehended.
Kotagama was also present in court when the case was taken up.
After considering the submissions, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that notices be issued to the respondents – Director-General of the CIABOC and the Officer-in-Charge of its Special Investigation Unit, instructing them to appear before the court and present facts on Nov. 18.
