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In a jaw-dropping fraud that has rocked the Sabaragamuwa Province, a senior Assistant Director and a former Ministry Secretary have been arrested for orchestrating a staggering Rs. 77 million scam—without building a single road or sports ground.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Kusumlatha Kumanayake, Assistant Planning Director of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Ministry for Road Development, Tourism, and Infrastructure, for allegedly forging measurement sheets linked to 77 development projects. These included non-existent roads and sports fields across the province.
Her co-accused, Devapriya Wijeyaraja—a former Divisional Secretary and later Secretary to the same ministry—surrendered through a lawyer at the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court, where both suspects were ordered to be held until the 8th by Magistrate Thilina Mahesh Peiris.
The plot thickens as it was revealed the fraud dates back to 2016 and 2017. Despite paperwork showing project completion, audits confirmed that none of the promised developments—neither roads nor sports grounds—were ever built.
Earlier, a former technical officer, a clerk, and a secretary attached to the Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha were also arrested in connection with the same elaborate scheme.
The web of deceit began unraveling after a complaint was lodged with the Financial Fraud Division of the CID, triggering a full-scale investigation. What followed was a shocking discovery of systemic corruption, falsified records, and blatant misuse of public funds.
As investigations continue, public outrage grows over how such a massive operation went undetected for years—raising new questions about oversight, accountability, and the true cost of political fraud.
