Former Member of Parliament Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) after appearing before the Commission to provide a statement.
The arrest relates to an allegation that, while serving as State Minister of Primary Industries, he facilitated the export of phosphate exclusively by three selected companies without following a proper procedure and assisted them in obtaining the required licences. He is accused of receiving a bribe of Rs. 8.1 million from those companies in return for these actions.
In connection with the investigation, Sumathipala Liyanarachchi, who previously served as Chamara Sampath’s personal secretary, was also arrested by the Bribery Commission. He is currently in remand custody.
