PoliticsCrimeEconomyHOTWednesday, June 10, 2026

Former Southern CM Shan Wijayalal De Silva Arrested Over Procurement Irregularities

TLDR

Ex-CM Shan Wijayalal De Silva arrested, remanded, then bailed.
Probe into Rs. 16.5m chair procurement irregularities.
Granted Rs. 5m surety bail, faces travel ban, restricted entry.
Personal secretary also bailed for influencing officials.

Former Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on June 10th. The arrest stems from allegations of financial irregularities during his tenure as Chief Minister. He is accused of bypassing the proper procurement process in 2019 when Rs. 16.5 million in MP allocations was used to purchase 16,361 chairs for voluntary organisations, allegedly favouring a specific manufacturer. De Silva appeared before the commission to give a statement and has since been remanded until June 12th.

6 Updates

Update #7\u00b7 Jun 15 · 12:30 PM

A former private secretary to ex-Southern Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The arrest is linked to procurement irregularities involving the purchase of chairs, with investigators alleging a loss of Rs. 16.5 million to the government. The procurement process allegedly bypassed standard procedures to benefit a private institution.

Update #6\u00b7 Jun 15 · 11:01 AM

Former Southern Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva's personal secretary, Hannadigge Dayapala, has been released on bail on June 15 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court. He was arrested by CIABOC for allegedly influencing government officials in the procurement irregularities case involving chairs for Provincial Council members. Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered his release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 10 lakh each.

Update #5\u00b7 Jun 12 · 7:16 AM

Former Southern Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva has been released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court. He was granted bail with two surety bails of Rs. 5 million each, a significant reduction from previously reported figures. Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama imposed an overseas travel ban and ordered him to surrender his passport. He was also prohibited from entering the Southern Provincial Development Authority and the Southern Provincial Council premises.

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