Former Minister S.M. Chandrasena, arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), was remanded after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court.
Chandraseka was arrested over the alleged distribution of maize seeds, valued at Rs. 25 million, among his party supporters ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
Chandrasena was summoned before the CIABOC yesterday (04) to make a statement regarding the incident. He was subsequently arrested.
In April this year, the ex-Minister’s brother, former North-Central Province Chief Minister, S. M. Ranjith, and his (Chandrasena’s) wife, Shanthini Chandrasena, who served as the latter’s former Secretary, were arrested for misappropriation of state funds.
On 02 April, the Colombo High Court sentenced S.M. Ranjith and Shanthini Chandrasena each to 16 years rigorous imprisonment on corruption charges.
Both Shanthini and Ranjith were charged with influencing provincial councillors to release two additional vehicles, in addition to the Chief Minister’s two official cars and security vehicle.