AGM of Water Board arrested over Rs. 12.75 Million vehicle rental fraud

2026-02-10 - 13:10

Dharshana Medawatte, an Additional General Manager of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). It is reported that, although two government vehicles had already been assigned for the use of the Chairman of the NWSDB, the suspect obtained a Toyota Prado SUV on a rental basis using funds from the Kandy North Pathadumbara Integrated Water Supply Project, which is implemented by the Board. Furthermore, without verifying the actual purpose for which the vehicle was used, a sum of approximately Rs. 12,750,000 was paid as rental fees to an institution named G.A.N. Auto Holding. Investigations have also revealed that the suspect bypassed procurement procedures and took steps to award the contract to that company in order to obtain the vehicle. It is stated that the suspect did not properly take delivery of the vehicle and, by making the payment, provided an undue advantage to the supplier. Accordingly, the suspect has been arrested on charges of corruption and conspiracy to commit corruption