Further evidence on 5 Oct

Former Chairman of Lanka Fertilizer Company, Buddhika Ruwan Madihahewa, testified in a Colombo High Court hearing regarding a corruption case against former Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody on October 5th. Madihahewa stated that he had approved an advance payment of Rs. 8.8 million to D.S. Construction, the selected bidder for road carpeting at the company's Hunupitiya warehouse complex, based on confirmation from the Procurement and Finance Divisions that procurement procedures had been followed.

Jayakody, who was the Procurement Manager at the time, resigned in April following controversy over the case and alleged irregularities in the coal procurement process. The case was heard by Judge Rasantha Godawela, who ordered further trial evidence to be taken up on the same date. Madihahewa, who testified under the direction of CIABOC Deputy Director General Asitha Anthony, revealed that after the procurement process, D.S.

Construction was awarded the contract for the road carpeting project. He confirmed that an advance payment of Rs. 8.8 million was subsequently made to the company under an advance payment guarantee, but admitted that the company failed to complete the carpeting work. Madihahewa also testified that only Rs. 2.2 million had been recovered under the guarantee, and that some materials remained within the company premises.

The CIABOC had filed the case against Jayakody, alleging that his actions while Procurement Manager in 2014 caused a loss of Rs. 8.8 million to the government by favoring a private company in the procurement process.