Court grants bail to retired auditor over unexplained assets case

Thursday, 12 March 2026 04:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragamage yesterday granted bail to a retired auditor of the Department of Civil Security who had been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations of accumulating assets beyond his declared income.

The suspect, U.K. Sumanasekara, was released on bail of Rs. 500,000 with two sureties. The Court also imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country.

The CIABOC informed the Court that the suspect is being investigated in connection with assets valued at Rs. 4.42 million, which he allegedly failed to explain over a period of 28 months.

Appearing for the defence, counsel told the Court that Sumanasekara had served in the public service as an auditor from 1984 until 2014. The lawyer said the funds in question included proceeds from the sale of four vehicle permits, which had been placed in fixed deposits.

The defence further stated that the suspect had also received financial assistance from his son, a lecturer attached to a university in Australia, and his daughter, who serves as an Additional Secretary in a ministry. Counsel added that the suspect’s wife is a Police officer and that the family’s children remain financially dependent on their parents.

After considering submissions from both sides and noting that the investigations had concluded, the Chief Magistrate ordered the suspect’s release on bail. The Court directed the CIABOC to update the Court on further proceedings on 28 July.