Sri Lanka, Sept. 11 -- Former Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando was remanded until September 23 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday (10), following his arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). He was taken into custody by CIABOC officers on charges of causing financial losses to the Government by awarding road development projects of the Moratuwa Municipal Council to his associates.

According to CIABOC, in 2013, a total of 112 contracts under the Urban Internal Roads and Rural Development Programme were awarded, at his discretion, to 12 community organisations. Moreover, during the payment process, funds were disbursed to parties other than the contracted entities, in violation of finan...