Ex-Sri Lanka President Gota's Former Secretary Remanded In Dual Salary Scandal

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sugeeshwara Bandara, the former Personal Secretary to ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the Central Crimes Investigation Bureau and produced before court, has been remanded until July 1.

He was arrested this (18) morning based on findings from investigations which revealed that during the period Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as President, Sugeeshwara Bandara had received two salaries, one as Presidential Personal Secretary and another as a Project Director.

Investigations have revealed that during his tenure as Personal Secretary to the President for a period of 2 years, 7 months, and 25 days, Sugeeshwara Bandara had received a total of Rs. 6,051,790 in salaries and allowances.

It was also uncovered that during the period from 2022.07.14 to 2024.02.21, after Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepped down from office, he had received an additional allowance amounting to Rs. 1,933,065 at a rate of Rs. 100,000 per month during the initial period.

In addition, Sugeeshwara Bandara had received Rs. 4,226,884 as salaries and allowances in his capacity as Director General of Special Projects.

Investigations have further revealed that during his tenure as Director General of the Special Projects Division at the Presidential Secretariat, from 2022.07.25 to 2024.09.22, he had taken steps to recruit 135 personnel.

The total amount paid as salaries and allowances to this staff amounts to Rs. 170,692,607.

During the same period, Rs. 905,953 had been incurred as maintenance expenses for an Audi car.

Investigations have also revealed that between 2022 and 2024, Sugeeshwara Bandara had travelled abroad on 8 occasions without obtaining proper approval.

It was further uncovered that although leave had not been approved for these foreign travels, he had continued to receive salaries and allowances during those periods.

A total of 16 vehicles had been allocated to the Special Projects Division under his direction, with 9 vehicles assigned to officers and the remaining vehicles attached to the pool.

Fuel coupons worth between Rs. 165,000 and Rs. 175,000, and in some cases Rs. 265,000 per week, had been issued for the 9 pool vehicles, however investigators have found no evidence or records confirming their actual usage.

The total value of such unsupported fuel coupons amounts to Rs. 18,680,000.

Investigations have also revealed that all 137 individuals attached to the project under Sugeeshwara Bandara had been engaged in activities of a political nature.

The total expenditure incurred for this staff under the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s budget head amounts to Rs. 240,976,291.

Investigators have pointed out that this constitutes a misuse of state funds.

It has also been revealed that 17 vehicles had been assigned to projects under Sugeeshwara Bandara, including a Mercedes-Benz vehicle which had been misused.

Approximately 2,311 litres of diesel had been consumed for the use of this Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

Based on these findings from the investigation, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Personal Secretary, Sugeeshwara Bandara, was arrested and produced before court this afternoon.