Former Acting Director General of the Office for Reparations and present Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Sepalika Samankumari, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission on charges of corruption and criminal misappropriation of funds, has been granted bail.

The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, after considering submissions presented by both the Bribery Commission officials and the suspect’s legal counsel.

Accordingly, the suspect has been granted on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each. The Magistrate also issued strict instructions that she must not interfere with witnesses, Ada Derana reporter said.

Additionally, the Magistrate directed that the suspect must not participate in any activities related to the Reparations Office, and ordered the Secretary of the Ministry to ensure that she is not re-engaged in duties related to that office.

The Magistrate noted that the decision to grant bail was made considering several mitigating factors, including the suspect’s long tenure in public service and the fact that she had not personally benefited financially from the alleged incident.

The case has been scheduled for further hearing on October 14.

She was arrested by Bribery Commission officers at around 9.20 a.m. today (08) for allegedly aiding and abetting the criminal misappropriation of state funds, in relation to a case filed against former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa.

Sepalika Samankumari is alleged to be involved in conspiring and facilitating the payment of Rs. 88.5 million as compensation, following the destruction of a building that had been constructed on a plot of land of the Mahaweli Authority by former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa. The building was destroyed by protesters during the 2022 ‘Aragalaya’ period.