Former Minister Akila Viraj remanded over alleged misuse of state-funded staff
COLOMBO – Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was remanded until August 18 after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations that he misused state-funded employees for personal work, causing a loss of more than Rs 2.7 million to the government.
CIABOC arrested Kariyawasam on Wednesday (5) after he appeared before the Commission to record a statement in connection with the investigation.
According to the Commission, the allegations relate to Kariyawasam’s tenure as Senior Presidential Adviser (Administrative Reforms), during which four employees were recruited to the Office of the President’s Senior Adviser (Decentralized Administration).
Investigators allege that three of the employees were assigned to work at a fuel station owned by Kariyawasam, while the fourth was engaged in duties unrelated to the office to which they had been appointed.
Despite not performing their official responsibilities, the employees continued to receive salaries and allowances from government funds, resulting in an alleged financial loss of Rs 2,768,836.14 to the State.
CIABOC said Kariyawasam was taken into custody at around 1.45 p.m. on Wednesday on corruption-related charges.
He was later produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that he be remanded until August 18 pending further proceedings.
-ENCL
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