Investigative officers informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday (23) that salary payments issued from the President’s Office to suspect Sugeeshwara Bandara, who served as the Private Secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, were credited to an account belonging to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s nephew.
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau stated before the court that statements have already been recorded from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as the account holder regarding the matter.
Sugeeshwara Bandara, the former Private Secretary to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is currently in remand custody over allegations of criminal misappropriation and breach of trust exceeding Rs. 220 million while serving as the Director General of Special Projects during former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure. He was produced before the court yesterday, where Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena rejected his bail application and extended his remand until October 07.
Submitting a progress report, the Central Investigation Bureau informed the court that Rs. 5 million was credited to the suspect’s account on four occasions, while an amount exceeding Rs. 11.4 million was credited across 79 instances. Investigators noted that while several statements have been recorded from members of the Special Projects division, over 50 more statements remain to be taken as investigations continue.
Investigators told the court that statements from Gotabaya Rajapaksa confirmed the salary intended for his Private Secretary was deposited into his sister’s son’s account. However, two contradictory statements were recorded from the account holder—one claiming he received half the funds and another stating he received nothing. Investigators added that advice has been sought from the Attorney General regarding presidential privileges related to the probe.
Furthermore, investigators pointed out that around 135 individuals, including 22 directors, worked under Bandara in the Special Projects unit. Investigations revealed that the project was primarily used to promote political activities while misusing over Rs. 220 million in funds.
Appearing for the suspect, President’s Counsel Maitri Gunaratne argued that the investigation originally began on allegations that Bandara drew two salaries, but statements from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa have since confirmed that he did not receive two salaries nor were those funds credited to his personal account.
