The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (12) ordered the release on bail of former Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal de Silva , who had been taken into custody by the Bribery Commission and remanded over corruption allegations.
Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order after considering submissions made by the Bribery Commission and the suspect’s lawyers.
The court directed that de Silva be released on two surety bails of Rs. 5 million each. However, his foreign travel has been prohibited, and he was ordered to surrender his passport to the court.
According to the Bribery Commission, de Silva was arrested on June 10 in connection with alleged financial misconduct dating back to 2019.
Investigators allege that Rs. 16.5 million from Provincial Council members’ allocations was misused under the Southern Provincial Development Authority by bypassing the prescribed procurement process. A manufacturing company was selected outside proper procedures to supply chairs for voluntary associations, granting undue benefit to the company.
The Commission further claims that 16,361 chairs purchased under the scheme were transported and handed over to the residences and offices of 54 Provincial Council members across three districts, causing financial loss to the government. (Newswire)
