He was released on a cash bail of Rs 25,000 and two sureties of Rs. 1 million by Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

The former minister faced charges of illegally paying Rs.3.2 million to the former Vice Chairman of the SLTB. The Bribery Commission said that the payment had been approved while Welgama was serving as the Transport Minister of the previous Government.

The case is to be taken up again on March 26.