Former Chairman of the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, Lalith Davulgala, and three other officials arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) have been released on bail over allegations of fraudulent procurement of a high-capacity vacuum machine.

The suspects were produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, who ordered their release on two sureties of Rs. 1.5 million each. The court also imposed a foreign travel ban on all four individuals.

According to CIABOC, the arrests were linked to the unauthorized purchase of a fish vacuum packaging machine capable of sealing 2,000 kilograms per hour, which was procured despite no operational requirement for such equipment. The irregular purchase, conducted outside approved procurement procedures, reportedly caused a financial loss of Rs. 5.86 million to the government.

The other suspects have been identified as:

• Chandana Krishantha – Director of Operations
  
• Wijith Pushpakumara – Supply Manager
  
• Anura Chandrasena Bandara – Acting Finance and Operations Manager
  

CIABOC noted that the procurement occurred in 2020. Further allegations were made against Wijith Pushpakumara, who allegedly demanded a bribe to release part of a Rs. 928,058 payment due to a private supplier. Investigators claim he received Rs. 100,000 into his personal bank account as an illicit payment.

The case remains under investigation by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.