Former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Sri Lanka Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), Dr Saliya Wickramasuriya, has been released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

Wickramasuriya, who was arrested by the Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) on May 09 over alleged fraud in tsunami housing funds, was produced before the court when the case was taken up today.

He had been charged with cheating Rs 169 million from funds received to build houses for people in the North and East, who lost their homes due to the devastating Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.

Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that the Police SIU is investigating the alleged financial fraud.

He said that Saliya Wickramasuriya and another female suspect, who were arrested and remanded until today as a result of the said investigations, were released on bail by the court after considering their health conditions.

Meanwhile the SIU arrested a former RADA accountant, Jayantha Samarasinghe, last evening following questioning regarding the alleged large scale financial fraud.  

Several suspects arrested over the case including Mr Samarasinghe have been remanded until July 08.

Wickramasuriya had served as Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) before being appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), which was overseeing post tsunami rebuilding work.

In 2006, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), a post he held till September 2008. From November 2011, Wickramasuriya has been serving as the Director General of Petroleum Resource Development Secretariat (PRDS).