Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena granted bail

09-Aug-2026

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The Colombo High Court has ordered the release on bail of former Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena in a case filed against him by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), after the charge sheet was served on the accused.

Investigations have revealed that the State suffered a financial loss of Rs. 1,748,877.76 after funds of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka were allegedly used to publish an additional 11 newspapers on November 19, 2014, in connection with the second inauguration ceremony of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

CIABOC had filed the case against former minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and another individual, alleging that they had committed an offence under anti-corruption laws by misusing government funds and causing a loss of more than Rs. 1.7 million to the State.

The former minister appeared before court on August 7. After the charge sheet filed against him was read out and handed over to him, the Judge considered the submissions made before court and ordered that Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena be released on bail.