The Colombo High Court today (Oct. 23) issued an arrest warrant on former Minister Johnston Fernando, for failing to appear before court over a case filed against misusing deploying Sathose employees in election work from 2010 to 2014. Three persons including Fernando stand accused of using 153 ‘Lanka Sathosa’ employees for political purposes, while Fernando was serving as the Minister of Co-operatives Internal Trade, resulting in a loss of Rs.
40 million to the government. The warrant was issued after Fernando failed to appear before Colombo High Court judge Manjula Thilakartne this morning (Oct 23). His attorney informed the court that his client was at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) providing a statement regarding the unregistered luxury car allegedly belonging to him, which was found parked at a star-class hotel in Colombo.
The case is scheduled to be heard again on January 27, 2025..