Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private secretary and leader of the New People’s Front, Sugeeshwara Bandara, who was arrested by the Central Crimes Investigation Unit (CCIB) earlier, was ordered to be remanded until July 1 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe today (18).

Bandara was arrested by the CCIB in connection with an alleged case of obtaining salaries for two positions under the Presidential expenditure head

The Central Crimes Investigation Unit informed the court that the investigation was launched based on a complaint received regarding the incident.

According to the CCIB, the suspect, while serving as Private Secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 and simultaneously working as a Project Director at the Presidential Secretariat, is alleged to have received salary payments for two separate positions under the Presidential budget.

The suspect was arrested in the Kollupitiya area in connection with the case, the CCIB further informed the court.

Investigators also told court that while holding the above positions, the suspect is alleged to have misused government vehicles and deployed government employees for political activities. They further stated that investigations into those allegations have also been initiated.