The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has arrested three former high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Trade in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of an online lottery operator.
Those taken into custody include former Trade Ministry Secretary A.M. Priyanka Maddumabandara, former Additional Secretary (Administration) Doraisamy Jeevanandam, and former Chief Financial Officer Kaluwewa Aravinda Priyadarshani de Silva.
According to investigators, the arrests stem from alleged irregularities in selecting an investor to manage an online lottery under the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahaweli Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund. Authorities claim that although a bidder had been properly chosen through the original procurement process, the contract was not awarded as expected, resulting in financial losses to both the government and the institution.
Officials further allege that corruption occurred when the tender process was reopened, and the suspects are accused of requesting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 1 million from a company linked to a previously unsuccessful bidder.
CIABOC stated that the three individuals were arrested separately between 10:05 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. They are scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court as investigations into the case continue.
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