Former Minister Johnston Fernando were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) today (5), following his appearance before the division this morning. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of state property during Fernando’s tenure as the Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade.
The investigation focuses on the misappropriation of a lorry belonging to the Lanka Sathosa retail chain. Authorities allege that forged documents were used to facilitate the deployment of the state-owned vehicle for operations at an ethanol company linked to Johan Fernando, causing a significant financial loss to the state. Earlier in the day, Johnston Fernando told reporters that the FCID was a familiar environment for him, though he claimed he had not been informed of the specific reasons for the summons.
Before being taken into custody, the former minister dismissed the probe as a “complete political vendetta” and a coordinated effort to target his family. He asserted that the government was spending millions to “sling mud” and maintained that neither he nor his children had committed any wrongdoing. His appearance followed a period where five police teams had been dispatched to locate him, with authorities warning that a court warrant would be sought if he failed to report as scheduled.
