Why Was Sri Lanka's Ex-Education Minister Akila Viraj Remanded?

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former UNP General Secretary and former Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who was arrested over corruption allegations, was remanded until August 18 after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

The allegations against Akila Viraj Kariyawasam relate to a period during which he served as an adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, with investigators claiming that four individuals paid through government salaries and allowances were deployed for work at a private fuel station.

Producing the suspect before court, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) stated that more than Rs. 2.7 million in losses had been caused to the State after four employees recruited on a temporary basis to the Office of the Senior Presidential Adviser were allegedly utilized for private purposes.

"Your Honour, this investigation was initiated following a complaint received in 2025. The suspect, who served as Secretary from July 2022, recruited four employees claiming they were required for duties within that office. However, Your Honour, these four employees recruited at the request of the suspect did not perform duties in that office. There are no fingerprint records or attendance records indicating that they reported for duty there. Instead, they were employed at a fuel station owned by the suspect in Kuliyapitiya. Nevertheless, their salaries and allowances were paid through the Presidential Secretariat. The suspect caused a sum of Rs. 2,768,836.14 in government funds to be paid to these four employees as salaries and allowances. By causing this loss to the State, the suspect has committed the offence of corruption."

The investigating officer further informed court that there were concerns regarding alleged interference with witnesses by the suspect.

"Your Honour, two of the four employees recruited in this manner are currently overseas. Another employee continues to serve as the manager of the suspect's fuel station. At the initial stage, this individual gave a statement confirming that he worked at the fuel station and did not work at the Office of the Senior Presidential Adviser and the Decentralized Administration Division. However, he later submitted an affidavit to the Commission claiming that his earlier statement was incorrect and provided a completely contradictory account. This sudden change in testimony has raised suspicions that the witness may have been influenced by the suspect. As investigations are still ongoing, we respectfully request that the suspect be remanded."

Counsel appearing for the suspect argued that continued investigations alone could not be used as grounds to remand his client.

"Your Honour, attendance records showing that these employees reported for duty in the relevant office have already been handed over to the Bribery Commission. Investigations should have been conducted before the suspect was arrested. The fact that further investigations remain pending cannot, by itself, justify remanding the suspect. We therefore request that the suspect be released on suitable bail."

After considering the submissions made by both parties, the Chief Magistrate rejected the bail application and ordered that the suspect be remanded until August 18.

Meanwhile, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama strongly cautioned suspect Akila Viraj Kariyawasam against interfering with court proceedings.

The warning was issued after the former minister, while inside the dock, allegedly attempted on three occasions during the hearing to provide various instructions to his lawyers.