Former Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has been indicted alongside ex-BOI Director General Jayantha Edirisinghe for allegedly misusing public funds to publish political ads in 2014 celebrating President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The case marks another high-profile corruption probe into past government practices.
Indictments have been filed against former Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and former BOI Director General Jayantha Edirisinghe before the Colombo High Court today (June 30), in connection with a misuse of public funds scandal dating back to 2014.
The Bribery Commission alleges that both defendants were responsible for causing a financial loss of over Rs. 1.7 million to the Government of Sri Lanka, by using funds from the Board of Investment (BOI) to publish newspaper advertisements marking the second anniversary of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s assumption of office.
The ads were reportedly not related to any BOI activities or economic development promotions but were instead viewed as politically motivated publicity at taxpayers’ expense.
The indictments were formally presented before High Court Judge Pradeep Abeyratne, with the Bribery Commission’s Assistant Director General Anutthara Jayasinghe appearing on behalf of the prosecution.
During court proceedings, when Judge Abeyratne asked for the Bribery Commission’s stance on bail, Jayasinghe stated that the Commission had no objections to the defendants being released on suitable sureties.
This indictment adds to a growing list of anti-corruption cases under judicial review in Sri Lanka, as watchdog bodies continue probing financial misconduct and abuse of public funds by former government officials.
