– Former Minister Johnston Fernando and Design Point (Pvt) Ltd owner Hemantha Lalith de Silva were released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama over allegations of corruption in connection with the purchase of chairs for the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium.The Magistrate granted bail to the two suspects with two sureties of Rs. 2.5 million each and imposed a travel ban on them.

The two suspects are alleged to have caused a loss of Rs. 7.9 million to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) by arranging for the chairs to be purchased from Design Point (Pvt) Ltd instead of the company that had submitted the lowest bid while meeting the required standards.