Akila Viraj Kariyawasam arrested
Akila Viraj Kariyawasam / Photo: Facebook
Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (August 5).
He is accused of causing a loss of more than Rs. 2.76 million to the Government by misusing employees recruited for his official staff.
Kariyawasam, who served as Senior Adviser on Decentralised Administration to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, was arrested by CIABOC officers at around 1:45 PM today after arriving at the commission to provide a statement.
He is accused of committing the offence of corruption by causing the Government to pay salaries and allowances totalling Rs. 2,768,836.14 to four employees recruited on the claim that they were required for his staff.
According to the allegations, three of the employees had been assigned to work at a fuel station owned by Kariyawasam.
The fourth employee had allegedly been paid without being assigned duties at the office allocated for the position.
The arrested former minister is due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
UPDATE – 04:28 PM:
Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), has been remanded until August 18, 2026.