The former General Manager of the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The arrest is linked to allegations of misappropriating Rs. 2.76 billion in government funds without adhering to the proper planning procedures. The funds were reportedly spent on the grand opening ceremony of the first phase of the Weras Ganga project, which included the Bellanwila walkway.
Following the arrest, the Bribery Commission produced the suspect before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
During the court proceedings, the suspect’s legal counsel argued that former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as well as musicians Bhathiya and Santhush, should also be named as suspects in the case. The lawyer emphasized that, at the time, the Urban Development Authority operated under the purview of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The defense further revealed that two previous General Managers of the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation had resigned from the position, citing an inability to perform their duties due to external pressure from higher authorities.
Additionally, the defense pointed out that all arrangements for the opening ceremony were handled by a company registered under the name of Bhathiya Jayakody. Therefore, the lawyer maintained that he, too, should be named a suspect in the investigation.
After considering the presented arguments, the court ordered the suspect to be released on bail.
