April 08, Colombo (LNW): National Democratic Front MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, following his arrest on charges linked to alleged misuse of public funds during his time in provincial office.
Dassanayake, who formerly held the position of Chief Minister in the Uva Province, stands accused of financial misconduct dating back to 2016.
The charges, brought forward by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), centre on the alleged misappropriation of state funds earmarked for early childhood education programmes.
In court proceedings, the prosecution outlined claims that Dassanayake had approached three state-owned banks, presenting a request for funding purportedly intended to provide schoolbags for preschool children.
Whilst two institutions approved a combined sum totalling Rs. 3.5 million, these funds were reportedly deposited into a personal charitable foundation linked to the MP.
A third bank, which refused to release funds, allegedly faced retaliatory action through the withdrawal of provincial council deposits, prompting significant financial repercussions for the council — with CIABOC estimating losses exceeding Rs. 17 million.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate, Thanuja Lakmali, upon hearing submissions from both legal teams, approved bail for Dassanayake under specific conditions. He was released on a cash bond of Rs. 50,000, along with two personal sureties each amounting to Rs. 2 million.
Additionally, an overseas travel ban has been imposed to ensure his presence during future proceedings. The court has scheduled the next hearing for 17 June.
In a separate matter, the Badulla Magistrate’s Court had earlier ordered the MP to be held in remand until 21 April in connection with a related investigation also initiated by CIABOC.
These cases form part of a broader inquiry into three separate incidents of suspected corruption tied to Dassanayake’s tenure as a provincial leader.
Since his arrest on 27 March, the legal proceedings have garnered widespread public interest, not least due to the intersection of politics and allegations of financial abuse.
Whilst bail has now been granted in all three cases, the implications of the investigations continue to reverberate through both provincial and national political circles.
Counsel representing the MP, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, requested court permission for his client to attend ongoing parliamentary sessions, a request which the Magistrate permitted without objection.
