Mavil Aru fraud: suspects further remanded

Sarath Malalasekera

The five suspects who had been remanded in the alleged fraud at the Agrarian Insurance Board and Agrarian Service were further remanded till November 12 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena.

The CID filing a further report in connection with their investigations told court that they have taken into custody 2918 application forms of farmers who were affected during the attack on Mavilaru anicut by the LTTE.

"We have recorded statements of over 1000 farmers during investigations, the CID told court."

The five suspects are Trincomalee Agrarian Insurance Service Board Director Sarawanmuttu Aravindan, Pension Director U. R. Chandradasa, Fund Director R. Punnasiri Perera, woman clerk S. Rasaiah and Chairman Asoka Namal Ratnayake.

According to the CID investigations the suspects employees of the Agrarian Insurance and Agrarian Service, are alleged to have misappropriated government funds of Rs. 88,88,796, money which was to be distributed among the farmers who were affected during the attack on Mavil Aru anicut.

It was revealed that suspect Namal Ratnayake had paid two farmers Rs. 43,240 and 14,995, the CID said.

A special CID team is conducting investigations into the massive fraud. Judge Weerawardena directed the case to be called again on November 12.