Ex-State Minister Viyalendran's Remand Extended

COLOMBO (News 1st) Former State Minister S. Viyalendran has been remanded until April 8 by order of Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali.

The decision follows allegations that Viyalendran aided and abetted the acceptance of a bribe of Rs 1.5 million in exchange for issuing a sand mining permit.

The Bribery Commission officials requested the extension, citing ongoing investigations.

Viyalendran's private secretary, Yoganathan Rosman, and another suspect, Kauthikiran Pradeepan, were previously arrested and released on bail.

The suspects were initially taken into custody in August 2024 for allegedly soliciting the bribe to facilitate the issuance of a permit through the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau for silt removal and sand mining in the Mahaweli B Zone irrigation tanks or wewa's.