S.M. Chandrasena Indicted Over Seed Maize Scandal

COLOMBO (News 1st) Former Minister of Special Projects and former Deputy Minister of Economic Development, S.M. Chandrasena, was today (12) indicted before the Colombo High Court over allegations of corruption linked to the distribution of government-imported seed maize.

The charges relate to an incident that allegedly took place between January 1 and December 31, 2014, in the Anuradhapura District, where seed maize stocks intended for distribution to low-income farmers at concessionary prices were instead misused.

According to the indictment, Chandrasena is accused of exerting undue influence over public officials, including the Director of Planning at the District Secretariat, to distribute 36,000 kilograms of seed maize, procured using public funds, to his associates rather than to the intended beneficiaries. 

Authorities allege that this act constitutes an offence punishable under Section 70 of the Bribery Act.

The case has been filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), which has brought two separate charges against the former minister in connection with the incident.

Chandrasena was initially arrested by the Bribery Commission on July 4 last year and was subsequently produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. He was later granted bail on August 1, after being held in custody.