Former Minister Nanayakkara released on bail after arrest

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By Editor_1
Former Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara was released on bail Wednesday (15) evening, hours after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged irregularities in a worker deployment agreement with Israel - File/EN

COLOMBO – Former Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara was released on bail Wednesday (15) evening, hours after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged irregularities in a worker deployment agreement with Israel.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama granted Nanayakkara bail on a cash bond of Rs 100,000 and two surety bonds of Rs 4 million each, while imposing a travel ban and strict conditions prohibiting any contact with witnesses in the case.

The arrest marks the latest development in a high-profile corruption investigation into a November 2023 agreement that sent Sri Lankan workers to Israel’s agricultural sector—a deal now under scrutiny for alleged abuse of ministerial powers.

According to CIABOC’s statement, Nanayakkara is accused of abusing his authority as minister by manipulating the selection process for workers bound for Israel, unfairly favouring certain individuals while denying opportunities to other eligible candidates.

The investigation centres on an agreement signed on November 5, 2023, between the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and the State of Israel to deploy Sri Lankan workers in Israeli agriculture, a program that emerged amid Israel’s severe labour shortages following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and subsequent Gaza war.

CIABOC alleges that Nanayakkara “granted undue benefits to selected persons and caused harm or loss to others” through his interference in the selection process, actions that the Commission characterizes as corruption under Sri Lankan law.

The former minister was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after voluntarily appearing at the Bribery Commission headquarters to provide a statement in connection with the investigation.

Magistrate Bodaragama’s decision to grant bail came despite the court having rejected Nanayakkara’s anticipatory bail application just a day earlier on Tuesday (14).

The Magistrate noted that Nanayakkara’s voluntary appearance before CIABOC to provide a statement demonstrated he was unlikely to evade legal proceedings.

“Based on the submissions made by both the prosecution and the defence, the court has decided to grant bail,” Magistrate Bodaragama stated, while emphasizing the strict conditions attached to the release.

The travel ban effectively prevents Nanayakkara from leaving Sri Lanka pending the conclusion of the investigation. The prohibition on witness contact aims to prevent any interference with CIABOC’s ongoing probe.

The case has been scheduled for mention again on December 10, when further proceedings are expected.

The controversial agreement at the heart of the case was signed during a period when Israel faced acute labour shortages following the outbreak of war in Gaza, and Palestinian workers, who had traditionally filled agricultural jobs in Israeli settlements and farms, were ordered to leave.

Multiple countries, including Sri Lanka, India, and several African nations, signed agreements to supply workers to fill this gap, deals that have attracted criticism from human rights organizations concerned about workers being deployed to a conflict zone and potentially to illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In Sri Lanka, the agreement sparked immediate controversy, with opposition politicians, trade unions, and civil society groups questioning both the ethics of sending workers to a conflict zone and the transparency of the selection process.

Critics at the time alleged that political connections, rather than merit or need, determined who received the lucrative foreign employment opportunities.

Nanayakkara served as Labour and Foreign Employment Minister under the previous government, which was defeated in the 2024 elections. His arrest is part of a broader pattern of investigations into alleged corruption during that administration.

His legal team argued successfully for bail on the grounds that he poses no flight risk and has cooperated fully with investigators. arguments that ultimately persuaded Magistrate Bodaragama despite the seriousness of the corruption allegations.

-ENCL

Editor_1
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