Chamara Sampath Dassanayake Remanded

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliamentarian Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been remanded until October 23 after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on Monday.

The remand order was issued after the MP was taken into custody by Bribery Commission officials earlier in the day.

The allegations relate to claims that Dassanayake solicited a bribe amounting to Rs. 8.1 million from three companies engaged in phosphate imports and allegedly had the funds deposited into the bank account of Sumathipala Liyanarachchi, who served as his secretary.

Investigators allege that the funds were subsequently used for the MP's political activities and that the payments were obtained without following a lawful or approved procedure.

In addition, Dassanayake is also facing separate allegations of accepting a Rs. 2.4 million bribe from three gem businessmen. Proceedings related to that matter are already being heard before court.

The parliamentarian appeared before the Bribery Commission on Monday morning in response to a notice issued in connection with ongoing investigations into four bribery-related allegations.

Following several hours of questioning and the recording of statements, investigators arrested Dassanayake and later produced him before court.