Arrest warrant issued against former Minister Douglas Devananda

Given the lack of credible justification for his absence, the Magistrate ordered the issuance of warrants to arrest and produce Devananda in court.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued an arrest warrant against former Minister Douglas Devananda after he failed to appear before the court to testify in an ongoing case.

The case pertaining to a complaint lodged by Devananda with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in 2016, accusing Wellawatta-based businessman Subramaniam Manoharan of issuing two fraudulent cheques, each valued at Rs. 10 million, was taken up before the court on Thursday.

Despite being summoned to testify in court, former Minister Devananda was absent. While his attorney claimed he was unwell, no medical documentation was submitted to substantiate the claim.

Given the lack of credible justification for his absence, the Magistrate ordered the issuance of warrants to arrest and produce Devananda in court.