Former Additional Secretary to the State Ministry of Agriculture Mahesh Gammanpila was arrested in connection with a financial fraud involving the import of organic fertilizer from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Company in China in 2021.
He was arrested by the Bribery Commission of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption for causing a loss of US$ 6.9 million to the government.
The former Additional Secretary had instructed the opening of letters of credit for the shipment of substandard organic fertilizer from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Company in China, which resulted in the payment of US$ 6.9 million, which is 75 percent of the first shipment.
He is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.