Former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this evening (22 January)

The police stated that the arrest is related to a case involving the misappropriation of Rs 6.1 million in flood relief funds in 2014.

The police stated that the arrest stems from allegations that the former minister obtained over Rs. 6.1 million from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in 2014, purportedly to provide relief to people displaced by floods in the Bingiriya and Narammala areas. However, the funds were allegedly diverted for presidential election campaigning activities in 2015.

It has been revealed that the ex-minister is suspected of committing criminal misappropriation of funds and violating the Public Properties Act.

Following the advice of the Attorney General, the suspect was arrested this evening and will be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (23), according to the police spokesperson.