The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has remanded former Education Minister and UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam until August 18 over allegations of misusing government funds while serving as Senior Presidential Adviser.
Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, former Education Minister and General Secretary of the United National Party, has been ordered remanded until August 18 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court following his arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The arrest relates to allegations of corruption during his tenure as Senior Presidential Adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
According to CIABOC, Kariyawasam recruited four employees to his office on a temporary basis, claiming they were needed for official duties. However, investigators allege that three of these individuals were instead deployed to work at a private fuel station owned by Kariyawasam in Kuliyapitiya, while the fourth employee was allegedly paid without performing assigned duties. Despite this, all four employees received salaries and allowances totaling Rs. 2,768,836.14 paid through the Presidential Secretariat, resulting in alleged losses to the state.
During court proceedings, CIABOC presented evidence that the four employees had no fingerprint or attendance records at the Presidential Adviser's office. The investigating officer also raised concerns about potential witness interference, noting that one employee changed his testimony after initially confirming he worked at the fuel station rather than the government office. Kariyawasam's legal counsel argued that attendance records had already been provided and that ongoing investigations alone could not justify remand, requesting bail. However, the Chief Magistrate rejected the bail application.
The court also cautioned Kariyawasam against interfering with proceedings after he allegedly attempted to provide instructions to his lawyers multiple times during the hearing.
