Former minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has been arrested on corruption charges during his tenure as Senior Presidential Adviser (Administrative Reforms), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said.

Issuing a statement, the Bribery Commission said that while serving as Senior Presidential Adviser, Kariyawasam recruited four employees under the claim they were part of his official staff. 

Three had been deployed to work at his private filling station, while another was engaged in duties unrelated to the office. 

Despite not being assigned to official responsibilities, arrangements were made to pay salaries and allowances totaling Rs. 2,768,836.14 from government funds, causing financial loss to the state.

He was taken into custody around 1.45 pm today (05) by officers of the Bribery Commission. 

Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was remanded until August 18 after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was taken into custody this morning when he appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to provide a statement.

It is reported that he had been summoned to give evidence regarding allegations that, while serving as an adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, he deployed two employees attached to the Presidential Secretariat to work in his private office.

Accordingly, Kariyawasam was arrested upon his arrival at the Commission today. (Newswire)

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