Mr.Bandara was arrested on Wednesday morning in the Kollupitiya area following an investigation into claims that he received salaries simultaneously from two government positions, resulting in an alleged misappropriation of public funds.
According to investigators, the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry had lodged a complaint with the Central Crime Investigation Bureau regarding a suspected financial irregularity under the President’s Expenditure Head.
Investigations reportedly found that Bandara served as the private secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 while also holding the post of Project Director at the Presidential Secretariat during the same period.
Reports indicate that Mr. Sugishwara Bandara received Rs. 6,051,790 in salaries and allowances during his tenure as the personal secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, serving for 2 years, 7 months, and 25 days while Mr. Rajapaksa was in office.
According to the reports, Mr. Bandara also served as the personal secretary to retired President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from July 14, 2022, to February 21, 2024, during which he received a monthly allowance of Rs. 100,000, totaling Rs. 1,933,065. In addition, he was paid Rs. 4,226,884 in salaries and allowances while serving as Director General of Special Projects.
The reports further state that during his tenure as Director General of the Special Projects Division of the Presidential Secretariat, Mr. Bandara facilitated the attachment of 135 officers to the division. Salaries and allowances paid to this staff reportedly amounted to Rs. 176,692,607.
Authorities allege that he drew salaries for both positions concurrently under the President’s Expenditure Head, leading to his arrest. He was subsequently produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that he be remanded until July 1 pending further investigations.
