Uva Agriculture Official Arrested Over State Land Fraud

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Assistant Director of Agriculture for the Uva Provincial Council has been arrested in connection with a major fraud involving the unauthorized use of state land and the misappropriation of public funds.

According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the official is accused of forcibly acquiring a government-owned plot of land in the Haldummulla area and falsely claiming it was intended for a state-run agricultural project. 

He allegedly procured 4,000 mango saplings using government funds under this pretense, only to sell them for personal gain.

Two additional officials linked to the same project have also been taken into custody.

All three suspects were arrested under the Public Property Act, which governs the protection and use of state assets.

The CID has confirmed that the suspects are scheduled to be presented before the Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court today.