Former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne failed to appear before the Commission to investigate allegations of Bribery or Corruption yesterday, with his legal team claiming he was suffering from a sudden illness.
Senaratne was due to give a statement regarding alleged misconduct linked to the removal of sand from the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour. According to the Bribery Commission, he bypassed standard procurement procedures and awarded the project to a Korean firm, leading to financial losses for the government.
Authorities had informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that Senaratne acted outside established regulations in this matter.
The timing of his illness has sparked renewed public attention, as a number of former ministers and officials facing corruption allegations have similarly reported sudden health issues just before scheduled investigations or court appearances.
