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Trial against Sajin Vass fixed for May 3

The trial against former minister Sajin Vass Gunawardena in the case, where he has been indicted with the alleged irregular purchase of ground handling equipment for Mihin Lanka, has been fixed for May 3.

He is charged with entering into an illegal contract worth Rs. 883 million with a Singaporean company to purchase the equipment, when he functioned as the CEO of the airline.Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attygalle also extended Gunawardena’s travel till May 3.

Investigations had revealed that he had entered into a three-year contract with the Singaporean Company — PPL Inter Private Limited in September 2015 — for the supply of ground handling equipment to the airline.

Gunawardena who was the then CEO, was not only liable for violating tender procedures when seeking the services of the foreign company, but had also disregarded the bids from three other companies which were prepared to supply such equipment.

It has also come to light that he had failed to state any specific reasons for granting the contract to the this particular company.