Former UPFA bigwig, wife indicted by CIABOC

CM’s wife received an additional fuel allowance

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has indicted former North Central Province Chief Minister S. M. Ranjith Samarakoon (UPFA) and his wife Shanthi Chandrasena, in the Colombo High Court for allegedly causing losses to the government by fraudulently obtaining fuel allowance between 27 Sept, 2012, and 31 Dec. 2014. The alleged fraud took place during the UPFA administration.

S. M. Ranjith Samarakoon is the younger brother of Lands Minister S. M. Chandrasena.

The Director-General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed indictments against S. M. Ranjith and his then private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena under section 70 of the Bribery Act on eight charges.

The CIABOC has alleged that first accused S. M. Ranjith, while serving as the NCP Chief Minister, allocated Rs.2.68 mn as fuel allowance to his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena although her fuel allowance had already been added to her salary.

When the two accused appeared before Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendi, they were ordered to be released on a surety bail of Rs. 2.5 million each.

Defence counsel Darshana Kuruppu appearing for the accused informed court that he wished to raise preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of the indictment.