Former Chief Minister of the Southern Province, Shan Wijeyalal de Silva, who was arrested over corruption allegations, has been remanded until June 12.

Shan Wijeyalal de Silva was remanded by the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption earlier today. 

According to the Bribery Commission, the former Southern Province Chief Minister was arrested 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 Bribery 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)

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Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake, warned that bribery remains deeply entrenched in government offices, pointing to a recent incident at the Department of Motor Vehicles as an example of how corruption thrives due to public silence and a lack of principled officials.

Referring to a recent investigation, he said it found that in just one branch of the Motor Vehicle Department, bribe money collected in a single week amounted to about 4.1 million rupees.

Dissanayake said many citizens believe paying a bribe is unavoidable if they want official work completed, creating an environment in which corruption becomes normalized.

He stressed that such misconduct occurs largely due to the absence of righteous and courageous public officials willing to confront corrupt practices within state institutions.

“What is needed in these offices is not merely officers who refuse bribes to protect themselves,” the chief said. “What we need are people who are prepared to stand up against bribery and corruption, even though that is not an easy task.”

Also, he pointed out that such unlawful practices have consequences beyond those directly involved, noting that corruption also harms individuals who witness such acts but choose to remain silent.

“These activities affect not only those who refuse to engage in them, they also affect those who see wrongdoing and keep quiet,” he added. (Newswire)

“We seized Rs. 4.1 million from a deputy commissioner of the RMV. It was the week’s collection of bribes from that branch,” Bribery Commission Director General Ranga Dissanayake reveals the extent of corruption at the Department of Motor of Motor Traffic, questioning why the… pic.twitter.com/makpXPd7vo

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) January 26, 2026

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An excise sergeant who accepted a bribe of Rs. 2 million has been arrested by officials of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

According to the Bribery Commission, the officer is attached to the Narcotics Division of the Excise Department.

He was taken into custody on allegations that he demanded Rs. 2 million as a bribe to refrain from taking legal action against a local pharmaceutical factory accused of cultivating cannabis using illegal machinery.

The arrested suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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The Bribery Commission has arrested former General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways, Sumathipala Mahanama Abeywickrama, on corruption charges.

Abeywickrama was arrested in connection with a disciplinary order issued by then General Manager B.A.P. Ariyaratne, which called for the immediate dismissal of train driver I.L.K. Dissanayake following a formal inquiry. 

According to the Bribery Commission, the order was later altered, and the driver was not dismissed, allegedly granting him an undue benefit.

The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered the dismissal of three petitions filed seeking a writ order to nullify a directive issued by the Colombo High Court to freeze assets belonging to family members of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. 

The asset freeze was linked to an investigation conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Members of Keheliya Rambukwella’s family had submitted these petitions.

After reviewing the preliminary facts of the petitions, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Janak de Silva, issued the order for dismissal. (Newswire)

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