Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kakunawela today (11 July) ordered that former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne be arrested and produced before court in connection with a controversial sand dredging project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour, which allegedly caused a significant financial loss to the government.

The court order was issued after considering a request made by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The Bribery Commission has alleged that a dredging project, which was legally awarded to a state-run institution, was unlawfully handed over to a Korean company, resulting in a loss exceeding Rs. 263 million to the government.

Magistrate Kakunawela noted that there were no legal barriers preventing the arrest of the suspect, and granted permission for the Bribery Commission to proceed.

The directive was issued during a hearing into the alleged irregularities surrounding the sand dredging project at Kirinda, which was originally intended to be carried out in accordance with legal procurement procedures.