Chamara Sampath arrested

Parliamentarian Chamara Sampath Dasanayake has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

He was taken into custody this morning (March 27) after arriving at the Bribery Commission to provide a statement regarding three corruption charges.

Dasanayake, a member of the New Democratic Front (NDF) representing the Badulla District, was questioned over an alleged irregularity that occurred during his tenure as Chief Minister of the Uva Province.

According to the Bribery Commission, he is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today.

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UPDATE – 05:20 PM:

MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been remanded until April 1, 2025, over bribery allegations.

He was arrested by the Bribery Commission today in connection with three bribery cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court granted him bail for one case.

However, he was ordered to remain in custody for another bribery case.

In 2016, while serving as the Chief Minister of Uva Province, he allegedly requested money from three state banks to provide school bags for preschool children.

Two banks gave him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which he allegedly deposited into his personal foundation’s bank account.

When the third bank refused his request, he withdrew fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council from that bank.

The Bribery Commission filed a case, stating this caused a government loss of Rs. 17.3 million.

After reviewing the facts, the court granted him bail for the first two charges with a Rs. 50,000 cash bail and two sureties of Rs. 5 million each.

However, he was remanded until April 1, 2025, for the third charge.