The Colombo High Court (HC) yesterday (26) ordered the acquittal of three accused, including former Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) Chairman and incumbent Opposition MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, in the case of the alleged misuse of State funds involving a sum of Rs. 5 million belonging to the SEC.

Colombo HC Judge Amal Ranaraja stated that the Attorney General’s (AG) Department has not presented sufficient evidence to prove the charges against the accused.

The case against Dr. Godahewa, former SEC Deputy Director General Dhammika Perera, and Roni Ibrahim of the “Tharunyata Hetak” organisation, over the misappropriation of Rs. 5 million taken from the SEC, and given to the “Tharunyata Hetak” organisation was taken up before Judge Ranaraja yesterday.

Delivering the verdict at the end of a long trial, the judge ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution (the AG’s Department) charging the accused was insufficient, and therefore, acquitted the accused Dr. Godahewa, Perera, and Ibrahim of all charges

The AG had filed this case before the Colombo HC against the three accused for allegedly misusing Government funds by giving away Rs. 5 million to the Tharunyata Hetak organisation during the period from 2012 to 2015 when Dr. Godahewa was serving as the Chairman of the SEC.