Former minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam remanded until August 18

Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was ordered to be remanded until August 18 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama following his arrest over corruption allegations.

The decision followed consideration of submissions presented by officers from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the defense counsel.

The arrest was based on allegations on Kariyawasam for causing financial loss to the state while serving as an advisor to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, by deploying three employees recruited for his staff to work at his private fuel station, failing to assign another employee to designated official duties, and causing the government to pay 278,036.14 in salaries and allowances to those workers.