Two high-profile names — Shasheendra Rajapaksa and former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne — step out of remand custody after Colombo courts grant them bail, raising fresh debates on Sri Lanka’s justice system and political privilege.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Monday granted bail to two prominent figures, igniting debate about justice, politics, and privilege in Sri Lanka.
Former Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, who had been remanded over allegations of corruption and misuse of state property, has now secured bail. The case, tied to accusations of exploiting public assets for personal and political gain, has been under close public scrutiny, given the Rajapaksa family’s controversial history in governance and financial dealings.
Meanwhile, former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne, arrested in July in connection with the disappearance of a youth from Pothuhera, was also granted bail. His arrest had sent shockwaves through military and political circles, as it brought the issue of accountability for alleged human rights violations back into the spotlight.
Critics argue that these decisions highlight the uneven playing field in Sri Lanka’s justice system, where politically powerful figures often find easier pathways to freedom. Others maintain that bail is a constitutional right, not a privilege, and that trials will determine the outcomes.
For now, both Rajapaksa and Ulugetenne return to their lives outside prison walls, leaving citizens wondering whether true accountability will follow or whether this is just another chapter in Sri Lanka’s long saga of political immunity.
