Former State Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption over a corruption-related charge and is currently in remand custody, has been further remanded until September 30 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama issued the order, rejecting a bail application submitted on behalf of the former State Minister.
Rajapaksa was taken into custody on allegations that he had exerted undue influence on certain government officials to obtain Rs. 8,850,000 as compensation for property damages caused during the May 9, 2022 unrest, despite the fact that he had previously declined compensation for the said property.
The case relates to a building and other property in the Sewanagala–Kiriibbanwewa area belonging to the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, which had been unlawfully constructed and later damaged during the 2022 protests. Authorities allege that Rajapaksa used his official capacity to pressure officials and secure compensation payments, thereby committing an offence of “corruption” under the Bribery Act and misappropriation of state property under the Public Property Act.
