PoliticsEconomyHOT2h ago

Former Minister Johnston Fernando Arrested by Bribery Commission Over Chair Procurement Probe

TLDR

Johnston Fernando arrested by CIABOC on Sept 4, 2026.
Probe into Rs. 7.9M loss from Polgolla Auditorium chair procurement.
Allegations: Removed company, awarded contract violating process.

Former Minister Johnston Fernando appeared before the Illegal Assets Investigation Division on June 2, 2026, to record a statement. His appearance is connected to an ongoing probe into the alleged provision of a vehicle on a rental basis to former local government member Sampath Manamperi. Investigators are examining the transaction as part of a wider inquiry into potential asset and financial irregularities. Fernando had been previously summoned for this investigation but did not attend on the initial date.

2 Updates

Update #3\u00b7 Sep 4 · 7:16 AM

New reports provide further details on the arrest of former Minister Johnston Fernando by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on September 4, 2026. The allegations state that Fernando removed a legitimately selected company and subsequently awarded the contract for the procurement of chairs for the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium to another entity, violating the prescribed process. It is also noted that Fernando had been previously summoned by CIABOC and appeared as scheduled to provide a statement.

Update #2\u00b7 Sep 4 · 6:01 AM

Former Minister Johnston Fernando was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Friday (September 4, 2026). He was taken into custody after arriving at the commission to provide a statement regarding an ongoing investigation into the procurement of chairs for the Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium in Polgolla. Authorities allege that the prescribed procurement process was violated in 2012, when Fernando served as Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade, resulting in a financial loss of Rs. 7,973,114 to the government. He is expected to be presented before court.

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