A Honda Vezel reportedly belonging to Chief Inspector Varuni Bogahawatte, who serves as the Officer-in-Charge of the Administration Division at Kotawila Police Station, has been taken into the custody of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), according to reports.
The move was reportedly prompted by information that a person accused of defrauding the Matara Cooperative Society had been paying the leasing instalments for the vehicle.
According to reports quoting investigating officers, Ms Bogahawatte has been unable to provide information on how she obtained the funds to purchase the vehicle.
Information about the vehicle reportedly came to light during investigations into Chaminda Prasanga Gunasekara, who has been accused of defrauding the Matara Cooperative Society of more than Rs. 10 billion.
Key issues to be established during the investigation include the account from which the individual paid the vehicle’s leasing instalments, the source of the funds and whether cooperative funds were used for the payments.
Allegations over Rs. 275 million transaction
Serious allegations concerning the funds of the Matara District Cooperative Rural Banks Association had also been reported previously.
According to a media report published on 24 April 2026, a court had ordered that Chaminda Prasanga Gunasekara remain in remand custody until 30 April.
One of the allegations cited in the report was that Rs. 275 million had been improperly transferred to an account belonging to the Matara District Cooperative Hospital Society out of the Rs. 300 million received by the association on 2 May 2025.
The report also stated that he had served as chairman of both institutions during the relevant period.