Former deputy Minister, 2 others in bribery net

by Harischandra Gunaratna

Bribery sleuths on Thursday arrested former Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs and Director General of the Central Cultural Fund A. V. Suraweera, Bandula Mandawela, Director (Development) and T. M. J. Jude Thilan, Deputy Director (Promotions) on a charge of bribery.

The suspects were alleged to have advanced a sum of Rs. 1,382,052 to a contractor who had undertaken rehabilitation work at the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Reserve, acting against the tender procedures.

The Bribery sleuths acted on a complaint lodged by the Acting Director General of the Central Cultural Fund Premalal Abeysinghe Gunasekera on August 3, 2003.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi ordered the suspects to be released on Rs 15,000 cash bail and Rs 1.5 million surety bail.

The suspects were ordered to surrender their passports to Court, report to police on every last Sunday of the month and directed to appear in Court on 28 March.

Source: Island