Court orders probe into scam to collect funds using Minister Jayatissa’s name

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, August 7 (Daily Mirror) - Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga today ordered an immediate investigation into a scam where the name of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa had been fraudulently used to open bank accounts and collect donations under the pretense of providing a wheelchair to a Buddhist monk.

The order was issued following a complaint lodged by Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa with the Cyber Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Investigating officers told court that the suspects had used the Minister’s name to falsely claim they were raising funds to donate a wheelchair to a monk. They had created bank accounts using forged details and collected donations from the public.

Investigations have so far uncovered Rs. 38,000 in one of the bank accounts linked to the scam.

The CID further informed court that this was not an isolated incident. A broader racket is reportedly in operation where the names of doctors, nurses and other prominent individuals in society are being misused to fraudulently collect donations from the public.

Taking the facts into consideration, the Chief Magistrate ordered the CID to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident, arrest the suspects and produce them before court.