Former Health Ministry chief legal officer remanded over bribery allegations

Colombo, April 22 (Daily Mirror) - The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested a retired Chief Legal Officer of the Ministry of Health on charges of soliciting and accepting a significant bribe related to a government building lease. 

According to the Commission, the arrest followed a formal complaint and a subsequent investigation into the officer's conduct during his tenure. The allegations center on the leasing of a building known as "Med House" for the Ministry of Health. It is alleged that the suspect demanded a total sum of Rs. 4,134,887 as "fees" for drafting three separate lease agreements to extend the rental period for the property.

Investigation revealed that the suspect had already accepted an initial payment of Rs. 2,000,000 and was in the process of securing the remaining balance. The arrest was made after the suspect allegedly requested and accepted a cheque for Rs. 500,000, issued from a state bank account belonging to a private company named Med House (Pvt) Ltd.

Following the arrest, she was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. and remanded till May 5, 2026.