Former Presidential Aide Sugeeshwara Bandara Arrested Over Dual Salary Allegations

Sugeeshwara Bandara, leader of the New People's Front and former Private Secretary to ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was arrested on June 18, 2026. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took him into custody in connection with an ongoing probe. The investigation centres on allegations that Bandara received salaries from two separate government institutions simultaneously during his tenure. Reports indicate he drew a salary as a Presidential Private Secretary while also allegedly being employed and paid as a Project Director.