Former Secretary to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade, Gamini Kithsiri Dias Amarawardhana, has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged corruption involving the purchase of chairs for the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Hospital.
According to the Bribery Commission, the former Ministry Secretary was arrested by its investigation officers at around 9.45 a.m. today (02).
The arrest follows allegations that the suspect arranged for chairs to be purchased from a private company despite another company having submitted the lowest quotation while meeting the required quality standards.
The Bribery Commission stated that the alleged irregularities resulted in a financial loss of Rs. 7,973,114.50 to the government while providing an undue benefit to an external party.
The former Ministry Secretary is accused of committing the offence of corruption in connection with the procurement.
The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)
