News
Lacille claims corruption case involving two Ministers could have been dealt with during Yahapalanaya
Former Secretary to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC), Lacille De Silva, yesterday (02) said that Yahapalana President Maithripala Sirisena owed an explanation as to why the case involving ex-Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was not heard during his time.
PRECIFAC consisted of four High Court Judges – Padman Surasena, Amendra Seneviratna, Vikum Kaluarachchi, Gihan Kulatunga – and former Auditor General B.A. Premathilake.
Civil society activist De Silva, who had served as Director of Administration of Parliament for over a decade, said that PRECIFAC recommended action against Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando, Sathosa Chairman at the time of the scam the state entity suffered a loss of Rs 53 mn. At the time PRECIFAC probed the Sathosa case, Nalin Fernando hadn’t entered parliamentary politics, De Silva pointed out urging the government to find out as to why the investigations couldn’t be brought to a successful conclusion.
Nalin Fernando first entered Parliament on the SLPP ticket at the 2020 parliamentary elections.
The Yahapalana administration lacked the political will to continue with the investigations into cases involving politicians. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) arrested Fernando in April 2018 but was later granted bail. In the following year, a travel ban was imposed in October but was lifted in December, De Silva said, alleging poor handling of the anti-corruption drive caused the Yahapalana government a debilitating setback.
Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.
They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa in the run-up to 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.
Responding to The Island queries, De Silva said that the government tasked PRECIFAC with inquiring into mishandling, misuse and abuse, misappropriation, corruption and frauds with regard to state funds and resources from 2010 to 2015. On the instructions issued by the then government, police headquarters assigned a team of 30 police officers, under the leadership of ASP Lalith Abeysekara. Chief Inspector Geethika Bodhipaksha had been in charge of the unit, De Silva said, alleging that the Yahapalana leaders wasted their (PRECIFAC) efforts.
Declaring the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) should be commended for bringing the case involving Aluthgamage and Fernando to a successful conclusion, De Silva emphasised that it would be the responsibility of the Commission to ensure that cases weren’t withdrawn on technical grounds. The current CIABOC leadership consists of Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala (Chairman), K.B.Rajapakse and Chethiya Goonesekera P.C. R.S.A. Dissanayake functions as the Director General of the CIABOC.
De Silva said that PRECIFAC handed over its final report to President Sirisena in early January 2018 and the President brought the investigated lot back into power just nine months later.
Referring to media reports that dealt with CIABOC, De Silva pointed out that the number of cases that had been withdrawn by the CIABOC and Attorney General during Yahapalana as well as during tenures of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted the pathetic situation.
De Silva said that during the hearing of a recently concluded case involving two Ministers the head of Trial-at-Bar and senior CIABOC representative underscored how corruption contributed to the deterioration of the economy to such an extent the country ended up bankrupt in 2022.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.
Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).
Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).
In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable
Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.
The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.
The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.
The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.
Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.
Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.
Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.
by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake
Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.
The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.
Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.
Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.
Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.
by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Showers expected in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Central provinces
Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest
Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow
Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder
CID summons former First Lady again
Remembering Upali Wijewardene, founder of Upali Group of Companies
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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