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Chamara Sampath Dassanayake

Member of Parliament for Badulla District · Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)

IN REMAND

Added automatically from a newswire report on 23 October 2026 · not yet reviewed by an editor

Verified 23 Oct 2026

Also currently:CHARGES PENDINGUva Provincial Council bank sponsorship corruption case TRIAL ONGOINGUva Provincial Council cheque deposit case

3

Legal matters

1

Investigations

2

Charges pending

0

Acquitted / dismissed

Next in court

3 November 2026

Uva Provincial Council bank sponsorship corruption case

Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court

+1 more upcoming hearing — see the Cases tab

Latest change

23 Oct 2026

Chamara Sampath further remanded in phosphate bribery case

Chamara Sampath Dassanayake is currently in remand.

On 12 October 2026 the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, a former minister and Member of Parliament, after he gave a statement. CIABOC alleges he solicited a Rs. 8.1 million bribe from three selected companies in return for helping them export phosphate without following proper procedures and obtain export licences.

Read more (1 more paragraph)

Ada Derana reports he was produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court. Onlanka reports his former private secretary was also arrested in the same investigation. The allegations have not been tested in court.

The full running account, event by event, is in the Timeline and Court Cases tabs below.

UpcomingUva Provincial Council cheque deposit ca…
Next Step Pending
Not yet scheduled (30 Apr 2026 pre-trial conference outcome not reported)
Court: Colombo High Court
Sources (1)
- adaderana.lk
6 November 2026Alleged phosphate export bribe - CIABOC …
Next Hearing
The case is due back before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on 6 November 2026, the date fixed on 23 October 2026.
Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
Added automatically from a newswire report on 23 October 2026 · not yet reviewed by an editor
Sources (3)
3 November 2026Uva Provincial Council bank sponsorship …
Next Hearing
The CIABOC plaint is due to be recalled on 3 November 2026 for a progress report.
Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
Sources (5)
23 October 2026Alleged phosphate export bribe - CIABOC …
Remanded
Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was further remanded until 6 November in connection with allegations of soliciting and accepting a bribe relating to phosphate imports.
Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
Added automatically from a newswire report on 23 October 2026 · not yet reviewed by an editor
Sources (3)
12 October 2026Alleged phosphate export bribe - CIABOC …
Arrested
CIABOC arrested Chamara Sampath Dassanayake on 12 October 2026 after more than three hours of questioning following a statement at the Commission, over an alleged Rs. 8.1 million bribe from three companies linked to phosphate exports. He was produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court; the court's order was not reported.
Court: Colombo Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
- adaderana.lk
- onlanka.com
27 March 2025Uva Provincial Council bank sponsorship …
Remanded
Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, then Badulla District MP and former Uva Chief Minister, was taken into custody by the Bribery Commission on 27 March 2025. The Colombo Magistrate's Court granted him bail in two of three cases and remanded him in the third until 1 April 2025. The allegations concern solicited bank funds for preschool bags in 2016 and the withdrawal of Uva Provincial Council fixed deposits; they are untested.
Court: Colombo Magistrate's Court
Sources (6)

3

Cases Total

1

Under Investigation

1

Charges Pending

1

Trial Ongoing

Case 1CHARGES PENDING

Uva Provincial Council bank sponsorship corruption case

One of multiple Uva Provincial Council corruption matters concerning alleged misuse of bank sponsorship/fixed-deposit arrangements and public funds while Chief Minister.

What’s happened

On 19 Jun 2026 the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court (Asanga S. Bodaragama) ordered the CIABOC plaint recalled on 3 Nov 2026; CIABOC told the court its investigation into the alleged premature withdrawal of Uva Provincial Council fixed deposits (loss over Rs. 17.3 million) is ongoing and was directed to report progress. No indictment in this matter has been reported.

Court: Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
Next hearing / due: 3 November 2026

Sources (5)

View full case file: Uva Provincial Council bank sponsorship corruption case

Case 2TRIAL ONGOING

Uva Provincial Council cheque deposit case

Separate case alleging a cheque/payment linked to Uva Provincial Council funds was deposited into a personal account.

What’s happened

CIABOC filed a case (Ada Derana reports no indictment); a pre-trial step was reported for 30 Apr 2026, outcome not located.

Court: Colombo High Court
Next hearing / due: Next hearing not confirmed

Sources (1)

adaderana.lk

View full case file: Uva Provincial Council cheque deposit case

Case 3INVESTIGATION

Alleged phosphate export bribe - CIABOC arrest on 12 October 2026

On 12 October 2026 the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, a former minister and Member of Parliament, after he gave a statement. CIABOC alleges he solicited a Rs. 8.1 million bribe from three selected companies in return for helping them export phosphate without following proper procedures and obtain export licences.

Ada Derana reports he was produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court. Onlanka reports his former private secretary was also arrested in the same investigation. The allegations have not been tested in court.

What’s happened

Arrested the same day he gave a statement to CIABOC. Neither report found states the court's order (remand, bail or detention) or a next date. An arrest is not a charge or a finding of guilt. This is separate from his earlier Uva Provincial Council matters.

Court: Colombo Magistrate's Court
Next hearing / due: 6 November 2026

Sources (2)

View full case file: Alleged phosphate export bribe - CIABOC arrest on 12 October 2026