Shasheendra Rajapaksa Sent Back To Remand

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa has been remanded until October 14 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. 

The order was issued by Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama after Rajapaksa was produced before court today.

Rajapaksa was arrested on August 6 by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on charges of corruption and misuse of public property. 

The allegations are based on an incident involving a building illegally constructed on land belonging to the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority in Sevanagala.

According to investigators, the building was destroyed during the May 9, 2022 protests, after which Rajapaksa allegedly pressured officials to approve compensation for the damage. 

He is accused of unlawfully obtaining Rs. 8.85 million as compensation, despite the property being state-owned.