Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam remanded until August 18

07-Aug-2026

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The Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered that former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who was arrested over allegations of corruption, be remanded until August 18.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama issued the order after considering submissions made by officials of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and counsel representing the suspect.

Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who was summoned to the Bribery Commission for questioning and subsequently arrested, was produced before court after his statement was recorded by CIABOC officials.

Appearing for CIABOC, officer Gamini Abeysinghe informed court:

“The suspect was appointed as the Senior Adviser (Decentralisation and Administration) to the former President in July 2022. Approximately one and a half months after his appointment, he requested the Presidential Secretariat to attach two employees from the Ministry of Education and two employees from the Ministry of Public Administration to his office.

Accordingly, those employees were attached to his office. Subsequently, the suspect requested the Presidential Secretariat to appoint two employees on a temporary basis for his office. Two administrative assistants were appointed accordingly.

After those two temporary employees left their positions, two additional employees were appointed under the same arrangement.

The two temporary employees appointed in this manner did not work at the Presidential Secretariat. They did not visit the Secretariat to record fingerprints or sign attendance registers. However, salaries were paid to them by the Presidential Secretariat.

Three of the employees appointed in this manner were employed at a fuel station belonging to the suspect in the Kuliyapitiya area.

During investigations, it was revealed that two of these employees continued receiving salaries for two months even after travelling abroad in 2024. One of these employees is currently working as the manager of the suspect’s fuel station.

The Bribery Commission recorded a statement from this employee. Three days after providing the statement, the employee returned to the Commission with an affidavit stating that there were differences in his previous statement and that the information contained in the affidavit was correct.

In the affidavit, the employee stated that the suspect’s coordination office was located on the upper floor of the fuel station building in Kuliyapitiya. However, no such statement was made in his earlier statement.

This is completely contradictory to the original statement given by the witness. There is suspicion that the affidavit may have been submitted due to pressure exerted by the suspect. Further investigations are being conducted into these matters.

Similarly, when recording his statement, the suspect handed over several documents to the Bribery Commission. Some of these documents are suspected to have been prepared this year. Further investigations are required.

If the suspect is released on bail, it may obstruct the investigation. Therefore, he should be remanded.”

Counsel appearing for the suspect, Gamini Alwis, told court:

“Your Honour, the suspect’s coordination office was located on the upper floor of the building where his fuel station was situated in Kuliyapitiya. The three employees mentioned by the Bribery Commission worked at that office.

They never worked at the fuel station. Two of these employees have now gone abroad. It is also false to claim that these employees continued receiving salaries after leaving the Presidential Secretariat.

When the suspect provided his statement to the Bribery Commission, he submitted documents relating to the attendance of these employees. The Commission was unaware of the existence of such documents.

This clearly demonstrates that the investigation is incomplete.

Two witnesses connected to this matter have left the country. The suspect cannot be kept in remand until they return.

The Bribery Commission has not informed court about the financial loss caused to the Government due to payment of salaries to these employees.

I request that the suspect be released on bail under any conditions.”

CIABOC officials informed court that the suspect had caused a loss of Rs. 2,768,836.14 to the Government by using employees appointed at his request for personal purposes.

After considering the submissions, Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama announced his order in open court.

The Magistrate stated that the facts presented indicated that the suspect had taken steps to influence witnesses and, considering provisions under the Bail Act, rejected the bail application.

Meanwhile, during the hearing, the Magistrate strongly objected after observing the suspect speaking with his lawyers while standing in the dock.

The Magistrate warned that such conduct would not be permitted in his courtroom as it could interfere with judicial proceedings.