Duminda Silva questioned over allegedly giving bribes to save Dematagoda Ruwan

Former Member of Parliament Duminda Silva was summoned to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption today (23) to obtain a statement regarding an accusation of aiding and abetting 'Dematagoda Ruwan', who is suspected to be an organized criminal and a large-scale drug trafficker, in obtaining bail from the court. He, who has been convicted in the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra murder case and is currently serving a life sentence, was brought to the commission today around 10.00 AM under strict security by prison officials and was taken back around 2.30 PM after about four hours of questioning.

This investigation commenced based on an incident where a bribe of one hundred and fifty lakhs (15 million) rupees was allegedly taken for granting bail to 'Dematagoda Ruwan'. The Bribery Commission had previously reported to Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that this financial transaction took place with the knowledge of Duminda Silva during his tenure as the Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority. Accordingly, the commission has proceeded to name R. Duminda Silva as the second suspect in this complaint.

When 'Dematagoda Ruwan' was arrested by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division through the Criminal Investigation Department, his son, Tharindu, attempted to prevent other members of his family from being arrested and to secure bail for Ruwan. During this, he met Duminda Silva, and investigations have revealed that Duminda Silva instructed him to meet a person named Mohammed Mohideen Sapras Nawaz to facilitate the bail process.

When the suspect named Sapras Nawaz, arrested by the Bribery Commission in connection with this incident, was produced before the court, it was revealed that fifty lakhs (5 million) rupees had been obtained through him. Additionally, the Bribery Commission informed the court that another suspect, who allegedly received a bribe of one hundred lakhs (10 million) rupees, has already passed away. Although a complaint regarding this incident was initially filed, it was withdrawn due to various threats faced by the complainant, and subsequently, the Bribery Commission confirmed these facts through its independent investigations and arrested the suspects.

After about four hours of questioning Duminda Silva, he was taken back around 2.30 PM.