The arrested individuals are former Trade Ministry Secretary A.M. Priyanka Madduma Bandara Atapattu, former Additional Secretary (Administration) Durai Sami Jivanannadam, and Chief Financial Officer Kalu Deva Aravinda Priyardharshani de Silva.
According to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the trio allegedly caused financial losses to the government by failing to award the bid to the successful investor for an online lottery intended to fund the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund. Instead, the officials reportedly called for fresh bids, which investigators say constituted corrupt conduct.
The first and second accused are additionally charged with soliciting and receiving a bribe of Rs. 1 million from a company linked to an institution that had been rejected in the initial bid process.
The arrests were carried out yesterday by CIABOC officers. The three are set to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
