Former SLBFE Chairman Hilmi remanded

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, Nov. 25 (Daily Mirror) - Former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), A.M.M. Hilmi, was today ordered to be remanded until December 9 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

Hilmi faces allegations of impropriety in the procurement process conducted in January 2024 to select an institution to provide an externally based training programme for SLBFE officers. According to the charges, he acted to unlawfully award the tender to JSF Holding, causing the institution to receive Rs. 5.3 million in state funds. It is further alleged that Rs. 4.3 million of this amount was arranged to be unlawfully obtained by the first suspect in the case, G.H.D. Shan Yahathpath.

Both suspects have been charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting the commission of an offence under the Offences Against Public Property Act for facilitating the misappropriation of state funds.