Ravi Karunanayake Granted Bail After Arrest in Lotteries Board Probe

COLOMBO (News 1st): Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake was granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on Monday (31) evening after being arrested by officials of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Karunanayake had earlier appeared before the Bribery Commission at approximately 8.15 a.m. in response to a summons issued by investigators. Following several hours of questioning and the recording of a statement, he was taken into custody by CIABOC officials.

The investigation relates to allegations that five individuals were recruited to the National Lotteries Board on a contract basis outside approved recruitment procedures and subsequently attached to the former minister's personal staff.

According to investigators, Karunanayake had previously been summoned on four separate occasions to appear before the Bribery Commission but had failed to report to the commission.

As part of the investigation, Bribery Commission officials also visited Karunanayake's residence on Rajamalwatta Road in Battaramulla two days earlier. However, authorities stated that he was not at home at the time of the visit.

Following his arrest, he was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court, which ordered his release on bail on Monday evening.