Sugeeshwara Bandara, a former private secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has been further remanded until August 12 after being produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Hiru News reported that bail applications submitted on his behalf were rejected by the court. Ada Derana described Bandara as a political activist, while Hiru identified him as the leader of the New Janatha Front.
Bandara is accused of drawing two salaries under the President’s expenditure head — serving as a secretary to Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 while also working as a Project Director at the Presidential Secretariat during the period when Ranil Wickremesinghe held office.
Investigating officers told court that Rs. 1.93 million was allegedly misused during his tenure as a secretary to the President, and a further Rs. 4.26 million while he served as a Project Director General — some Rs. 6.19 million in total. The Daily Mirror reported the allegations as criminal misappropriation of funds allocated under the Presidential Expenditure Head.
Officers said the alleged offences fall under Section 5(1) of the Public Property Act and relevant provisions of the Penal Code.
The Central Crime Investigation Bureau is continuing to investigate allegations that state vehicles were misused and that employees were deployed for political activities while Bandara held the two positions.
Context
Bandara was arrested by the CCIB in June over the alleged double salary, and had been remanded on July 22 with today’s court date already fixed. He was separately summoned earlier in the year in connection with a protest incident.
The case is one of a series of proceedings arising from investigations into the finances and staffing of the former administration. The allegations have not been proven and remain before the court.
