Two senior state officials arrested by Bribery Commission granted bail
November 3, 2025 04:49 pm
Two senior state officials arrested by Bribery Commission granted bail
Former General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways Sumathipala Mahanama and former Working Director of the Sri Lanka Engineering Corporation Sarathchandra Gunaratne who were arrested earlier today (03) have been granted bail.
The suspects, who were taken into custody by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) earlier today, were produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, Ada Derana reporter said.
After considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that both suspects be released on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each.
The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on the two individuals.
Furthermore, the case relating to former Railways General Manager Sumathipala Mahanama has been scheduled for February 20, 2026.
Both suspects were arrested this morning by CIABOC investigation officers in connection with the ongoing corruption probe.
Former General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways Sumathipala Mahanama Abeywickrama was arrested at 9:15 a.m., while Sarathchandra Gunaratna Jayathilaka, the former Director of the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka was arrested at 10:15 a.m. by officers of the Bribery Commission. Sumathipala Mahanama Abeywickrama was arrested in connection with an incident where, following a formal disciplinary inquiry conducted under Section XLVIII, Clause 1 of the Establishments Code, a railway driver was found guilty and ordered to be dismissed from service with immediate effect by the then General Manager of Railways, B.A.P. Ariyarathna. However, Abeywickrama is alleged to have altered that disciplinary order and taken steps not to dismiss the said railway driver, thereby granting him an undue benefit.
Meanwhile, Sarathchandra Gunaratna Jayathilaka was arrested for allegedly deploying employees and property of the State Engineering Corporation—without following proper procedures—for renovation work at the United National Party (UNP) headquarters ‘Sirikotha’, causing a loss of over Rs. 1.6 million to the Corporation and conferring an unlawful benefit to the UNP.
