Colombo Magistrate's Court has granted bail to MP Ravi Karunanayake following his arrest by anti-corruption authorities, after his legal team detailed multiple serious health conditions requiring specialized medical management.
MP Ravi Karunanayake has been released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate's Court after his arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The bail decision came on Monday following submissions by his legal team regarding his medical circumstances.
Attorney Ashoka Weerasooriya outlined several health concerns affecting the former finance minister during court proceedings. Karunanayake has five cardiac stents and faces potential need for an additional stent, according to his defence. The court was also informed that he suffers from sleep apnea since 2014, requiring use of a medical device at night, and that sleeping without it could trigger serious heart or lung complications. His legal team argued that his conditions warranted careful consideration when determining bail conditions.
The defence additionally highlighted that Karunanayake has cellulitis, a serious bacterial infection, and uncontrolled diabetes. A medical report from Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore was submitted to court, along with documentation of his daily medications. These submissions supported the bail application based on health grounds.
Additional Magistrate Liyan Warusavithana ordered Karunanayake's release on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each and imposed an overseas travel restriction. The arrest followed a three-hour statement recording conducted by CIABOC as part of an investigation into allegations that three National Lotteries Board recruits were assigned duties outside the institution during Karunanayake's tenure as finance minister. The case will be revisited on November 3.