By Roy Denish
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Lanka Salt’s general manager has been arrested by anti-corruption officials over alleged procurement irregularities linked to “Lak Lunu” packaging materials, with investigators claiming the state suffered a loss of around Rs. 14.3 million. The case now moves toward court as scrutiny grows over public-sector procurement and tender abuse.
The general manager for Lanka Salt was busted for making salty deals, arrested by anti-corruption officials in connection with procurement irregularities that cost the government millions of rupees.
Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Gunaratne was taken into custody after arriving at the Bribery or Corruption Commission headquarters in Colombo to provide a statement, officials said.
The investigation centers on the purchase of packaging materials for the “Lak Lunu” brand under the Hambantota-based salt enterprise. Investigators allege Gunaratne bypassed standard government tender procedures by issuing a repeat order to a specific supplier, creating an unfair commercial advantage.
The alleged irregularities resulted in a loss of approximately 14.3 million rupees to the state, according to commission investigators.
Gunaratne is expected to appear before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court as the investigation into the financial transactions continues.
