Weerawanni arrested on bribery charges, bailed

Ranil Wijayapala

COLOMBO: Former Chief Minister of Uva Provincial Council Samaraweera Weerawanni was arrested and produced before Courts yesterday by the Bribery Commission on corruption charges involving the purchase of heavy machinery to the Uva Provincial Council in 2000.

Director Investigations of the Bribery Commission SSP Neville Guruge told the Daily News that they made the arrest acting on a complaint received by the Commission in 2005 with regard to an act of corruption in the Uva Provincial Council in 2000.

"The arrest was made in Colombo after investigating officers received credible evidence against the former Chief Minister and two other former Provincial Ministers", SSP Guruge added. The complaint was regarding a Rs. 600,000 loss to the Government due to corruption in the Uva Provincial Council when purchasing heavy machinery in 2000.

The former Chief Minister was released on Rs. 10,000 cash bail and Rs. 300,000 certified bail after he was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena.

The Magistrate ordered the former Chief Minister to submit his passport to Courts and also to appear before the Bribery Commission once in three months.

One of the three ministers allegedly involved in this corruption, has already died. Sub Inspector C.A. Gunawardena is conducting further investigations.