Former Health Ministry secretary remanded

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, June 26 (Daily Mirror) - Former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta was ordered to be remanded until July 8 in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged accumulation of illicit assets, by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga.

The suspect was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today and produced before court.

Appearing for the Commission, counsel said that the suspect had fraudulently underreported the value of certain assets. One such instance involved a Rs. 1.45 million donation made for the construction of a Buddha statue at a temple in Panadura, which was later recorded as Rs. 3.5 million. The Commission argued that false declarations and undue influence on witnesses were part of a deliberate attempt to conceal the origins of unexplained wealth.

It was further revealed that the suspect had purchased a property for Rs. 9.2 million but declared it as Rs. 4 million, and that, according to his wife's statement, a Rs. 9.2 million cash transaction had taken place.

The defense, represented by counsel Nuwan Jayawardena, argued that his client was a career public servant with 35 years of service and had used legitimately earned funds and public donations for religious purposes. He denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that the money had been deposited into his wife's account and originated from foreign scholarships.

The Bribery Commission told the court that there was no evidence in bank records of third-party donations, and that the funds in the suspect’s accounts were inconsistent with his known income. It added that some of the funds were being paid in installments toward personal loans, raising concerns over the legitimacy of the assets.