Sri Lanka former Minister arrested on charges of corruption

 
Sri Lanka’s former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa was arrested today morning by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) at his residence in Colombo.The arrest is linked to a controversial compensation claim for a building damaged during the island-wide protests on May 9, 2022. The property, located on government land managed by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, had reportedly been built illegally. Authorities said compensation was initially denied after confirming the land belonged to the state. However, Rajapaksa is accused of using his official position to pressure damage assessment officials into awarding compensation fraudulently. He is further alleged to have misused government property and conspired to commit corruption. These charges fall under Sri Lanka’s State Property (Recovery of Possession) Act. Following his arrest, Rajapaksa was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and has been remanded until August 19. Investigations by the Bribery Commission are ongoing.