The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today (07) rejected the bail applications filed by former ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando, who sought release on bail pending their appeal against the 25-year prison sentence imposed on them.

This order was issued by the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar bench, comprising Judges Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasooriya, and P. M. T. Bandara.

Former ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando were convicted by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar on May 29 for a case filed against them.

The charge alleged that they caused a loss exceeding Rs. 53 million to the government by illegally purchasing and distributing 14,000 Carrom boards and 11,000 Checker boards among sports clubs during the 2015 Presidential Election.

The convicted former ministers subsequently filed appeal petitions through their lawyers before the Supreme Court against the sentencing order.

The bail applications rejected today were filed by the former ministers, requesting release on bail pending the hearing of those appeal petitions.

After considering the submissions, the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar bench rejected the bail applications, emphasizing that sufficient grounds were not presented to grant bail to the accused.