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Monday, October 12 2026
Monday, October 12 2026
MONETABRIEF – Sri Lanka’s former primary industries minister and opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake was arrested on charges of soliciting and accepting bribes to grant phosphate export permits.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said the politician was taken into custody after a statement was recorded from him over sales by Lanka Phosphate Limited, which had been under his control.
He is accused of bypassing proper procedures to grant export permits to three private companies in return for a total of Rs 8.4 million. The money was collected and deposited into a bank account belonging to his private secretary, who is already in custody.
"He was arrested at 1.16 pm," the CIABOC said in a statement. Dasanayake is one of five MPs from Wickremesinghe’s New Democratic Front, which contested the 2024 elections under the Gas Cylinder symbol.
The MP is already facing several other court cases over alleged corruption during his time as a minister of state under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The latest arrest is part of the government’s stepped-up anti-corruption drive under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. (Colombo/Oct 12/2026)
| 3 month bill | 9.26% | 1bp ▲ |
| 12-m bill | 9.95% | 2bp - |
| Gold (Ounce) | $4187 | - ▼ |
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