The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed Mahara Magistrate Kanchana N. Silva yesterday (April 09) that former Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, had recently visited the Department of Immigration and Emigration to renew his passport and had also participated in political meetings at his party’s headquarters.
The passport office is located at the ‘Suhurupaya’ complex in Battaramulla, which also houses the Ministry of Public Security.
Law enforcement authorities are seeking to arrest Ranaweera over allegedly selling a plot of state-owned land in Kiribathgoda to a private party by forging documents.
Taking this into account, the court issued warrants to seize properties of Ranaweera and another suspect still at large.
Meanwhile, the Mahara Magistrate’s Court yesterday (April 09) rejected a bail application for former MP Mervyn Silva remanding 04 suspects including Silva until April 21.
During the hearing, suspects currently in remand – former Minister – Mervyn Silva, former Deputy Chairman of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha – Dr. Jayantha Singhabahu Cabraal, Naveen Weerakoon and Silva’s then secretary – Don Sarath Kumara Edirisinghe alias “Singapore Sarath,” were not physically produced before court.
The Public Security Ministry, which oversees the DI&E, is located in the same building where passports are issued.
(Source: Aruna)
