COLOMBO, October 31, 2026 — The Bribery Commission’s challenge to the bail granted to Rakitha Rajapakshe, Charith Abeysinghe and a third suspect will be heard on February 9, 2027, after the court raised concerns over the interim relief requested.
The Colombo High Court has questioned the legal basis of an interim order sought by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in its attempt to overturn the bail granted to three suspects, including attorney-at-law Rakitha Rajapakshe and Charith Abeysinghe, in an alleged Rs. 120 million bribery case linked to suspected organised crime figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias “Harak Kata”.
The matter was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Lal Bandara Ranasinghe on Friday, when three revision applications filed by the Bribery Commission were considered.
CIABOC is seeking to set aside the Colombo Magistrate’s Court decision granting bail to the three suspects, who had previously been remanded in connection with allegations that they solicited and accepted money from the wife of Wickramaratne in return for arranging assistance while he was in detention.
During the proceedings, the High Court questioned whether the interim relief requested by the Commission was effectively identical to the final relief sought through the revision applications.
Following the court’s observations, the Commission informed the judge that it would not pursue the interim relief request at that stage.
The court subsequently directed the parties to file their respective objections and fixed February 9, 2027, for the hearing of the revision applications.
Judge Questions the Purpose of Interim Relief
Appearing for CIABOC, when the revision petitions were called yesterday (Oct. 30), Assistant Director Anusha Sambandapperuma informed the court that the Commission had sought an interim order suspending the Magistrate’s decision to release the suspects on bail.
Judge Ranasinghe questioned what the Commission intended to achieve through the proposed interim order.
In response, the Commission’s representative explained that the immediate objective was to suspend the operation of the Magistrate’s bail order.
The judge then sought clarification about the final relief requested in the revision applications.
The Commission stated that its ultimate objective was to have the bail orders cancelled.
According to the proceedings described in the original report, the judge observed that the interim and final relief appeared to produce substantially the same result.
He questioned whether an interim order could properly be granted when it would effectively determine the principal relief sought before the revision applications had been fully considered.
The court’s intervention centred on the distinction between temporary judicial relief and the final determination of a case.
Following that exchange, Sambandapperuma informed the court that the Commission would not make submissions in support of interim relief at that stage.
The decision did not amount to the withdrawal of the revision applications themselves, which remain pending before the High Court.
Respondents Granted Time to File Objections
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, Saliya Pieris and Neville Abeyratne, appearing on behalf of the respondents, requested permission to submit objections to the revision applications.
The High Court allowed the request and established a timetable for the filing of written submissions.
The respondents were directed to file their objections by November 14, 2026.
According to the proceedings reported in the supplied account, CIABOC was directed to submit any counter-objections by January 28, 2027.
The judge then fixed February 9, 2027, for the hearing of the three revision applications.
The original bail orders remain the subject of the pending challenge, with no final determination made on their validity during Friday’s proceedings.
Background to the Rs. 120 Million Bribery Allegations
The proceedings arise from an investigation into allegations that three individuals solicited and accepted Rs. 120 million from the wife of Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, widely known as Harak Kata.
Wickramaratne has been identified by investigators as a suspected organised crime figure and alleged drug trafficker.
The Bribery Commission alleges that money was obtained in return for promises to facilitate assistance concerning his detention and legal circumstances.
The three suspects identified in the proceedings are Rakitha Rajapakshe, Charith Abeysinghe and Aruna Sri Warushahennadige.
They had previously been arrested and remanded during the investigation.
On July 28, 2026, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court granted them bail, subject to conditions.
CIABOC subsequently challenged that decision through revision applications filed before the Colombo High Court.
The Commission maintains that the Magistrate’s bail decision was legally flawed and seeks an order setting it aside.
These are allegations and legal submissions made in ongoing proceedings. The suspects have not been convicted of the alleged bribery offence through the proceedings described.
What Happens Next?
The High Court’s observations on interim relief have left the substantive challenge to the Magistrate’s bail orders to be determined through the scheduled revision proceedings.
The respondents will have an opportunity to present their objections, while CIABOC may respond to those submissions in accordance with the court’s directions.
The February 9 hearing is expected to focus on the Commission’s challenge to the legality and propriety of the original bail decision.
The principal question before the High Court is whether the Magistrate’s order granting bail should remain in force or be set aside under the applicable law.
Until the revision applications are determined, the bail decision remains under judicial challenge, and the allegations underlying the bribery investigation remain matters for the relevant criminal proceedings.
