Female state official arrested over Rs. 22.7 mn. fraud

2026-02-20 - 04:27

An Assistant Additional Secretary attached to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has been arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) over allegations of defrauding Rs. 22,700,000 under the pretext of providing a luxury motor vehicle. Police stated that the suspect is a 56-year-old female officer residing in Nedimala, Dehiwala. The arrest was made yesterday (Feb. 19) following a complaint lodged on Dec. 30, 2026, by a Colombo-based doctor. Preliminary investigations revealed that around 07 months ago, the suspect had been attached to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. During that time, she had allegedly obtained money from the plaintiff by claiming she could facilitate the purchase of vehicles auctioned within the premises of the Port of Colombo at concessionary rates. The plaintiff further alleged that the suspect neither delivered the vehicle nor refunded the money and continued to evade him. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (Feb. 20). Further investigations are underway by a team under the instructions of the Director of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau, Senior Superintendent of Police Kamal Ariyawansa.