The case filed against six individuals including Chanuka Ratwatte for allegedly carrying on financial business named Entrust Limited and accepting deposits, without authority was yesterday fixed for trial on June 1 by the Colombo High Court.
At a previous occasion, Deputy Solicitor General Sudharshana de Silva who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General informed court that the prosecution will proceed with the trial under Section 241 of Criminal Procedure Code, in the absence of the sixth accused, Isira Dharmapriya Bandara Dassanayake in the case since the accused had absconded court since the inception of trial.
When the case came up before High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi, the counsel who appeared for the six accused Isira Dharmapriya Bandara informed court that his client was suffering from a serious illness and was unable to appear in court.
President's Counsel Sampath Mendis said the case be not taken under Section 241 of Criminal Procedure Code and asked to reconsider the case if he appears in court.
Dassanayake appeared in court and informed court that he was suffering from the ‘Bowel Syndrome’ and due to this condition he was unable to appear in court on previous hearings.
After considering submissions, the Colombo High Court ordered to release Dassanayake on the previous bail conditions imposed by the Colombo High Court and fixed the case for trial.
Chanuka Ratwatte, son of former deputy defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte had functioned as the one of directors of this company and the sixth accused Sisira Dharmapriya Bandara Dassanayake had functioned as Entrust Chairman. Previously Udayasiri Kariyawasam who had been named as the seventh accused was ordered to be released from the case following an application by defence counsel.The Attorney General had filed indictments against Thirunganam Kanagasabai, Chanuka Ratwatte, Rumesha Dushyanthi Seneviratne, Sanjeewa Dayaratne, Niroshan Mendis and Isira Dharmapriya Bandara Dassanayake for violating section 2(2), 2(4) and 56 (1) of the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis with senior counsel Harshana Nanayakkara appeared for the accused.
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