Chamara Sampath remanded over another bribery case

Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been remanded until April 01 in connection with another bribery allegation, Ada Derana reporter said. 

The New Democratic Front (NDF) MP, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission earlier today in connection with three separate bribery cases, was granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court over one of the cases.

However, he has been ordered to be remanded until April 01 with regard to another bribery case against him. 

During his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uva Province in 2016, Mr. Dassanayake had allegedly requested money from three state banks, claiming to provide school bags for preschool children in the Uva Province.

Two banks had provided Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, respectively, and it is alleged that he had credited these funds to his personal foundation’s bank account.

However, when the money was requested from the third bank, and that bank had refused to provide the money, Mr. Dassanayake had proceeded to withdraw the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council from that bank.

The Bribery Commission has filed a case before the court, stating that the government has incurred a loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to this decision.

After considering the relevant facts presented, the court ordered MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake to be remanded in custody for the third charge, although he was granted bail for the first two charges, Ada Derana reporter said.

Accordingly, the court ordered the release of Mr. Dassanayake on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 5 million each over the first two charges while he was ordered remanded until April 1 over the third charge.