Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya ordered the release of former Minister Kumara Welgama on a cash bail of Rs 25,000 and two sureties of Rs 2 million each over a case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption.

Welgama appeared in court today on notice issued by the court last month.

The Bribery Commission filed a case with the Magistrate Court on four charges, including the appointment of L. A. Wickremeratne as Vice Chairman of SLTB in violation of Ceylon Transport Board Act No 27 of 2005.  Welgama is accused of causing a loss of Rs. 3.2 million to the government through salaries and other allowances paid to the illegally appointed Vice Chairman.

The case was fixed for next hearing on March 24.