Former Chairman of the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), Lalith Piyum Perera, has been granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

He was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over financial malpractice allegations.

The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama after considering submissions made by officers of the CIABOC and the suspect’s lawyers, Ada Derana reporter said.

Accordingly, the court had ordered the suspect’s release on two personal sureties of Rs. 1 million each.

The court also ordered that the suspect’s overseas travel be restricted.

He is accused of preparing sublease agreements by misrepresenting a land and the buildings located on it in the Samapura area of Ampara as state property, and subsequently obtaining the property on lease from the National Youth Services Council.

It is further stated that Rs. 3.8 million in council funds was unlawfully and improperly paid to a third party in connection with the arrangement, while a further Rs. 1.3 million was spent on renovating the building using council funds without formal approval from the Board of Directors.

He was arrested over allegations that these improper payments caused a loss of Rs. 5.1 million to the government.

Accordingly, he has been granted bail after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (28).