Former Secretary of Buddhist Affairs arrested

Mr. Kamal Bandara Dissanayake, the former secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, who was accused of causing a loss of four million seven hundred ninety thousand rupees (Rs. 4,790,000) to the government by acting outside the proper state procurement procedures when printing books for the Ministry of Buddhasasana, was arrested today (25) by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

During the relevant investigations, it was revealed that the suspect former secretary had assigned these book printing tasks to a private institution close to him on three occasions.

It was also revealed during investigations that he had arranged to pay the full amount for the printed book stock without it being officially received into the Ministry's official store.

Charges have been filed against the former secretary for committing the offense of corruption by causing a financial loss to the government and unduly benefiting the favored company. The arrested suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court for further legal proceedings.