Serious Fraud Charges Levelled Against Local Politician

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha and current Sarwa Jana Balaya party member Daya Pushpa Kumara Battage has been further remanded until the 2nd of June.

This decision was made when the case was taken up today (19) before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

The case has been filed alleging that the suspect committed four acts of corruption, causing a loss exceeding Rs. 39.6 million to the government, including selling a land purchased for Rs. 1 million to the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha for Rs. 9.4 million after six years.

Officials informed court that investigations are being conducted into allegations that a private company engaged in land sales transferred a 202-perch land, reserved for the Pradeshiya Sabha, to a relative for as low as Rs. 200,000, causing financial loss to the local authority.

Further, it was revealed that the suspect had unlawfully facilitated the acquisition of a land owned by him to the Pradeshiya Sabha and obtained Rs. 9.4 million in return.

Investigations are also underway into another incident where a state-owned land was processed to be acquired by the Pradeshiya Sabha, with Rs. 4 million paid to the deed holder, but the land was ultimately not acquired, resulting in a loss to the government.

Investigating officers also informed court that a project initiated to provide school supplies to children from low-income families in the Weligama area had been launched without proper approval and later abandoned after purchasing exercise books.

More than 40,000 exercise books purchased under this project still remain in the possession of the Pradeshiya Sabha, officers said.

The court was further told that the suspect had allegedly threatened the former Secretary of the Pradeshiya Sabha in relation to providing a statement to the Bribery Commission.

Investigators requested that the suspect be remanded as further investigations are ongoing.

The Magistrate, noting that investigations have not yet been completed, rejected the bail request made by the defence and ordered that the suspect be remanded in custody.