Former Presidential Aide Remanded Over Alleged Double Salary Scandal

Sugeeshwara Bandara, a former Private Secretary to ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has been remanded by the Colombo Magistrate's Court. He is accused of receiving two separate government salaries simultaneously while holding positions within the Presidential Secretariat. Investigations suggest Bandara drew salaries as both a Presidential Private Secretary and a Project Director, with allegations of criminal misappropriation and breach of trust involving over Rs. 220 million. His bail applications have been rejected, and he is ordered to remain in custody until October 7. The alleged dual salary payments reportedly occurred during periods under both former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe's administrations.