Former Director General (DG) of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) Sampath Sumedha Rathnayake and the former Director (Lands) of the UDA Weerawansa Perera, who were arrested on corruption charges, have been released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. 

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama issued this order after considering the facts presented by Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) officials and the legal representatives of the suspects.

The duo had been arrested by officers of the CIABOC yesterday (11), over allegations of the financial misappropriation of State funds. According to investigations by the CIABOC, a 55.5-perch plot of UDA-owned land located at Mayura Place, Colombo 5, had been leased out on a temporary rental basis, resulting in a financial loss of over Rs. 29.5 million to the UDA. They are alleged to have committed an offence of corruption in connection with the land transaction, the CIABOC stated.