Former Chairperson of the National Lotteries Board, Shyamila Perera, arrested

Ms. Shyamila Perera, former chairperson of the National Lotteries Board, has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. She, a resident of Pelawatta, Battaramulla, was arrested around 1.30 pm today (30) at the premises of the said Commission.

This action has been taken against her in connection with an alleged act of financial corruption committed during her tenure as the chairperson of the National Lotteries Board. Investigations have revealed that two coordinating officers and one management assistant officer were recruited to the institution on a contract basis, outside of approved procedures and without vacancies in the approved staff.

The three officers thus recruited were not assigned to any service of the National Lotteries Board, but were referred for service in the office staff of Mr. Ravi Karunanayake, who was then the Minister of Finance. However, the Commission states that even though these individuals did not provide any service to the Board, by arranging for their salaries and allowances to be paid by the National Lotteries Board, a loss was caused to the government, and thus she has committed the offense of corruption.

The official media release issued by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption states that the arrested suspect is to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court for further legal action.