The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has arrested former Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s onetime Media Secretary, Prasad Manju, over an investigation into alleged misuse of State Engineering Corporation vehicles and fuel during the period Weerawansa served as a Cabinet Minister, Police said on Friday.
Newswire, citing Police, reported that the complaint relates to the alleged unauthorised use of State Engineering Corporation resources — including vehicles and fuel — and that further investigations are being conducted by the FCID. No charges or court dates have yet been disclosed.
Weerawansa held housing, construction and public utility portfolios under successive United People’s Freedom Alliance governments during which the State Engineering Corporation, an Industries Ministry-affiliated state contractor, fell within his ministerial purview.
The FCID arrest extends an already active legal track against figures in Weerawansa’s political circle. The former minister himself was arrested on May 25 over alleged unauthorised construction at a war heroes’ memorial in Kaduwela, a case that has since moved through multiple court appearances over evidence and charges. He had earlier been at the centre of a tense Police standoff at the war heroes’ memorial site on May 18 before the formal charges and further evidentiary hearings were filed. Weerawansa’s wife Shashi has also been in court in a separate passport-related matter that has been adjourned to July.
