Colombo Municipal Council probe questions nearly 100 former councillors, including Rosy Senanayake, over alleged fraud and administrative irregularities.
The Colombo Municipal Council probe has questioned nearly 100 former councillors as investigators examine alleged fraud, corruption and administrative irregularities within the council.
The investigation division of the Presidential Commission has recorded statements from former councillors who served before 2025.
Information from the Commission indicates that former Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake has also been questioned and had her statement recorded in connection with the inquiry.
Those questioned reportedly include almost all councillors who represented both the ruling and opposition sides during the period under examination.
Colombo Municipal Council Probe Examines Relief Payments
One major area under investigation concerns payments made during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022.
At the time, authorities distributed payments of Rs. 3,500 each to nearly 150,000 low-income residents of Colombo.
Investigators have reportedly found that vouchers intended for genuine low-income beneficiaries had instead been issued to lists of followers supplied by certain councillors.
The Commission is examining the circumstances surrounding those payments and the role of former council members in selecting beneficiaries.
Another area of investigation involves the alleged reservation and commercial use of valuable vehicle parking spaces in Colombo.
Investigations have reportedly revealed that several councillors reserved parking areas in prime city locations by claiming that they maintained offices there.
Those parking spaces were then allegedly sold or provided to commercial establishments for significant sums of money.
Former councillors have also been questioned over these allegations.
The Commission is considering conducting a future public evidence hearing by summoning councillors allegedly linked to the matters under investigation.
Presidential Commission Covers 2010 to 2025
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged wrongdoing within the Colombo Municipal Council between 2010 and 2025.
Its mandate includes examining fraud, corruption, criminal breach of trust and the misuse or abuse of official power, government resources and privileges.
The Commission is also empowered to investigate illegal recruitments and appointments, violations of procurement procedures and irregularities involving the rental or leasing of movable and immovable property.
Its mandate further covers legal proceedings and settlements allegedly conducted outside proper procedures.
The Commission can also investigate serious losses or damage caused to government assets or revenue as a result of such actions.
The inquiry was established through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2469/08 dated December 30, 2025.
It was appointed under Section 02 of the amended Commission of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948, Authority 393.
The Commission operates from No. 152, Galle Road, Colombo 03.
Former High Court Judge and Attorney-at-Law Piyasena Ranasinghe serves as Chairman.
The other members are E.R.M.S.H. Ekanayake of the Sri Lanka Accountancy Service, Grade 1, and retired Senior Superintendent of Police D.S. Wickramasinghe.
The Colombo Municipal Council probe is continuing as investigators examine evidence relating to former councillors, relief payments, parking allocations and other alleged administrative irregularities across the 15-year period.
