Former Sri Lankan Minister S.M. Chandrasena appeared before the Colombo High Court after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) formally filed corruption charges against him, marking a significant development in a case involving the alleged misuse of government resources for political purposes.
The indictment was presented before Colombo High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne, who read the charges in open court. Following the proceedings, the court granted Chandrasena bail, ordering his release on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 along with two sureties of Rs. 1 million each. The matter has been scheduled for its next hearing on July 22.
According to the indictment, the allegations relate to actions that allegedly took place between January 1 and December 31, 2014, during Chandrasena’s tenure as a government minister. Prosecutors claim that he abused his official authority by influencing procurement officials within the Anuradhapura District Secretariat to divert a large quantity of state-funded agricultural supplies for political purposes.
The prosecution alleges that approximately 36,000 kilograms of imported seed maize, purchased by the government to support low-income farmers, were distributed among Chandrasena’s political supporters rather than being sold to economically disadvantaged farmers at subsidized prices as originally intended. Authorities contend that the distribution was carried out with the objective of securing political support during Sri Lanka’s 2015 Presidential Election campaign.
The seed maize had reportedly been imported using public funds as part of a government agricultural assistance programme designed to improve access to quality seeds for financially vulnerable farming communities. The alleged diversion of these resources, if proven, represents a misuse of public assets intended for social welfare and rural development.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has charged Chandrasena with abusing his official position to obtain an undue political advantage, an offence that falls within Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption framework governing the conduct of public officials.
The case forms part of broader efforts by Sri Lankan authorities to pursue investigations into alleged corruption involving former public officials and the misuse of state resources. As legal proceedings continue, the prosecution is expected to present evidence supporting its allegations, while the defence will have the opportunity to contest the charges before the court.
The Colombo High Court is expected to resume hearings on July 22, when the case will proceed to its next stage.
By FCCT Editorial Team
, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan raped several dozen women and girls in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, and those fleeing to Chad between late April and late June 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. The assailants appear to have targeted people because of their Massalit ethnicity and, in some cases, because they were known activists.){kind=link}