A former private secretary to former Chief Minister of the Southern Province Shan Wijayalal De Silva has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations of corruption causing a loss of Rs. 16.5 million to the government.
According to CIABOC, the arrest was made in connection with a procurement-related investigation involving the purchase of chairs for voluntary organisations in the Southern Province under a provincial development programme.
Investigators allege that the procurement process was carried out in violation of standard procedures, with a specific manufacturer being selected, thereby conferring an undue advantage and resulting in financial loss to the state.
The purchases were reportedly made through the Southern Provincial Development Authority, and the chairs were distributed under provincial council member allocations across the three districts in the Southern Province.
In total, 16,361 chairs were allegedly procured and distributed to 54 provincial council members for onward delivery to homes and offices.
The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
