Former Ministry Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne was arrested yesterday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the alleged misappropriation of LKR 100,000 from the Cooperative Fund in 2011. The arrest was made on the instructions of the Attorney General.
The disputed amount was reportedly allocated for transport expenses during the “Isuru Saviya” International Cooperative Day celebrations in Kurunegala in 2011, when Mayadunne was an Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Cooperative and Internal Trade.
CID officials told the court that while Mayadunne claimed the funds were used for event-related transportation, he failed to properly account for the expenditure. During questioning, he said the money was given to a security officer assigned to then-Minister Johnston Fernando but could not provide further details.
Mayadunne was presented before Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura, where CID requested his remand. His attorney, Suranga Perera, argued that the incident occurred 13 years ago and that his client had acted on ministerial instructions. The defense contended there was insufficient evidence to prove personal misuse of the funds.
Magistrate Lankapura ruled there was no compelling reason to deny bail and released Mayadunne on two sureties of LKR 200,000 each. The case was postponed to May 28, 2025, for further proceedings.
Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, criticized a police media briefing on the case. In a social media post, he alleged the police spokesperson had wrongly linked the arrest to a Rs. 183 million fraud instead of the Rs. 100,000 charge.
“Misleading press briefing by the police spokesperson. The charge against him was confined to Rs. 100,000, allegedly given for transporting people to an event. Rs. 183 million is rubbish. That’s why bail is Rs. 200,000. The alleged offense took place in 2011. Investigators are working overtime for brownie points,” Sabry wrote.
He further warned that such actions could discourage public servants from making decisions, stating, “No public servant will take decisions if you harass them on flimsy grounds. Yahapalanaya 2 is in action.” (Newswire)
The post Rs 100,000 charge : Why was Former Ministry Secy arrested ? appeared first on Newswire.