Employee at Akila Viraj's fuel station remanded until August 18

An employee at the fuel station owned by United National Party Deputy Leader and former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was ordered to be remanded in custody until August 18 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Nuwan Kaushalya today (12).

The order was issued because the suspect allegedly aided and abetted the incident linked to former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, where the employees of the Presidential Secretariat were allegedly deployed for private and political activities.

Former Minister Kariyawasam is the first suspect in this case, and the Bribery Commission produced this individual before the court as the second suspect today (12). The person remanded in custody is Dipal Sanjeewa Rathnayake.

The Bribery Commission informed the court that the suspect functions as an employee at the fuel station of former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. The Bribery Commission presented facts to the court that after former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was appointed as the President's Senior Advisor on Decentralised Administration, he appointed 5 employees, and this second suspect is among them.

The Bribery Commission informed the court that the second suspect was functioning in the post of Management Assistant during that period. The Bribery Commission also presented facts to the court that after the tenure of the former minister ended, this second suspect worked at a fuel station belonging to the former minister located in Kuliyapitiya.

Presenting further facts to the court regarding the incident, the investigating officers stated that the suspect committed an offense under Section 70 of the Bribery Act and Section 112 of the Anti-Corruption Act.

The officer appearing on behalf of the Bribery Commission presented facts further to the court regarding the incident as follows:
"Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who is the first suspect related to this incident, is remanded in custody until August 18 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court. He assumed duties as the President's Senior Advisor on Decentralised Administration in July 2022.
He obtains 5 employees for his staff. The Presidential Secretariat provides those employees; in addition to that, this former minister states on two other occasions that two external individuals are required for the management position and obtains them.
The office must be located within the Presidential Secretariat. If the office is located outside, the relevant institutions must be informed regarding it.
The recruited employees must place fingerprints upon arriving for duty as well as when leaving. However, information is not revealed regarding whether these employees placed fingerprints in that manner. The staff was recruited temporarily. These appointments were given on 2024/2/1. The minister's tenure ended on 2024/9/24.
Records regarding the suspect working during that period and records regarding times he took leave were checked. During the very hours of duty, the suspect went and worked at the first suspect's fuel station in Kuliyapitiya. During that period, the bank account affairs of the fuel station were handled by this second suspect.
The first suspect related to the incident presented records about the employees under him.
However, the statements given first by this suspect contradict the statements given secondly through an affidavit. During the break time granted when the second suspect was giving statements, he spoke with the former minister, who is the first suspect, five times via mobile phone.
Statements given later contradict each other. Accordingly, it is clear that interference with evidence can occur.
Accordingly, I request the court to remand this suspect until the date the first suspect is remanded."

As further investigations to the incident are ongoing, the Magistrate ordered the suspect to be remanded in custody.