Public Funds Misuse: Indictment Against Former Minister Lakshman Yapa

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has taken steps to file a case against former Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and another individual.

This is in relation to an incident from 2014, where it is alleged that government funds exceeding Rs. 1.7 million were misused by publishing advertisements in newspapers using Board of Investment (BOI) funds to mark the second anniversary of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election.

The CIABOC today filed a case before the Colombo High Court against former Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and former Director General of the BOI, Jayantha Edirisinghe, under five indictments.

According to CIABOC, on November 19, 2014, funds from the BOI were used to publish additional advertisements in 11 newspapers to mark President Rajapaksa’s second term anniversary, resulting in a financial loss to the government amounting to Rs. 1,748,877.76. 

This action constitutes an offense under the Anti-Corruption Act.

In this case, 15 individuals are expected to testify as witnesses, and 21 documents will be submitted as case material.