Former Ministry Secretary arrested over Rs. 7.9 million procurement fraud

Daily Mirror and Newswire report that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested a former Secretary to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade in connection with chair procurement. Newswire gives his name as Gamini Kithsiri Dias Amarawardhana and reports that CIABOC investigators made the arrest at about 9.45 a.m. on the second day of the month.

Newswire reports that the chairs were intended for the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Hospital. According to Newswire, CIABOC alleges that the former secretary arranged a purchase from a private company despite another company submitting the lowest quotation while meeting the required quality standards.

Newswire reports that CIABOC estimates the alleged irregularities caused a government loss of Rs. 7,973,114.50 and provided an undue benefit to an outside party. Newswire also reports that the former secretary is accused of corruption in connection with the procurement.

Newswire reports that the former secretary was scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.