The Chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha has alleged that his signature was forged to authorize salary payments to 11 employees, resulting in the disbursement of nearly Rs. 625,000.

According to the chairman, the alleged incident occurred while he was in remand custody after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for an ongoing investigation. He claimed that his signature was fraudulently used to approve salary payments to the employees during his absence.

The chairman made the allegation after lodging written complaints with the Nuwara Eliya Criminal Investigation Division and the Assistant Commissioner of Local Government in Nuwara Eliya.

Speaking to media, he stated that a signature purportedly bearing his name and dated April 7 had been used to authorize salary payments while he was being held at a prison in Colombo following his arrest.

He further pointed out that, under standard procedures, his signature should only be placed after the relevant officials have reviewed and endorsed the salary documents. However, he alleged that the disputed signature appeared on documents dated prior to the signatures of the responsible officials.

The chairman also stressed that he does not recognize the signature used during the period he was absent from the Pradeshiya Sabha, maintaining that it is a forgery.

He called on police and local government authorities to conduct a formal investigation and take swift legal action against those responsible.