News Today: Uva Provincial Council Chief Financial Fraud Arrest 2025

In a shocking development, Uva Provincial Council Chief Secretary Mahesh Lasantha Gammanpila has been remanded over a major financial fraud tied to the import of substandard organic fertiliser in 2021. His arrest was carried out by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Gammanpila, who also served as the Additional Secretary to the Agriculture State Ministry at the time, allegedly ordered the reactivation of suspended Letters of Credit (LCs) to facilitate the import of fertiliser from Chinese firm Qingdao Seawin Biotech, resulting in a US$ 6.9 million loss to the Sri Lankan Government. Despite concerns about product quality, the government paid 75% of the value of the first shipment.

The former top official was presented before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and ordered to be remanded until May 5th, marking a major step in an ongoing probe into state-level corruption and mismanagement.

Mahesh Gammanpila is also the President of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association and regarded as a veteran in civil administration. His arrest has sent shockwaves across the political and administrative sectors, symbolizing a significant advancement in Sri Lanka’s battle against public sector corruption.

This case, tied to the controversial 2021 fertiliser deal, is expected to widen as the Bribery Commission digs deeper into state procurement irregularities and potential policy-level collusion.

With widespread public outrage and calls for accountability, the case has gripped the nation and is trending across media as one of the most important corruption probes of the year.