Former Cabinet Minister Jagath Pushpakumara arrested by Bribery Commission, granted bail

Former Cabinet Minister Jagath Pushpakumara was arrested by officers from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Wednesday.

He was taken into custody after giving a statement to the CIABOC on allegations levelled against him.

Following his arrest over multiple long-standing corruption offences, he was produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court and released on bail with two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each, with the court also banning him from travelling overseas. 

Context

Pushpakumara first entered Parliament in 1994 from the Monaragala District for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

During the second administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa between 2010 and 2015, he held the portfolio of Minister of Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development.

His tenure in public service spanned over 23 years, where he also functioned as a deputy minister and non-cabinet minister under multiple governments.

The Allegations

In its statement clarifying for the reasons for the arrest, CIABOC outlines three main charges involving the severe misuse of public funds at state-owned plantation companies during past election cycles.

First, he is accused of causing an LKR 2.66 million loss to Chilaw and Kurunegala Plantations by ordering 250,000 campaign posters under the guise of public development awareness during the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election.

Second, during the 2015 Presidential Election period, he allegedly bypassed proper procurement guidelines to purchase 5,000 sarong and T-shirt sets, alongside 5,000 skirt and blouse sets, under the false pretense of flood relief.

These items were reportedly never distributed, costing the two state companies an additional LKR 3.27 million and LKR 3 million respectively.

Finally, the former minister is accused of heavily influencing officials to obtain thousands of T-shirts, sarees, and promotional materials from these plantation firms to distribute to participants at May Day rallies held in 2013 and 2014.