A commission investigating allegations of bribery or corruption has summoned eight staff members of the Sri Lankan parliament speaker’s official residence after a record book of items related to the official residence has gone missing.
A book containing records related to items in the Speaker’s official residence located in Kote area is said to be missing. The officials who are conducting investigations in this matter have taken steps to obtain information from the concerned employees.
In particular, it is reported that the employees have been instructed to submit the record book of the alleged missing items to the commission.
The investigation into the matter is being conducted by the Special Investigation Unit of the Commission for Investigation of Bribery or Corruption. According to reports, an inquiry was issued to the concerned staff through the parliamentary administration.
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One of the eight employees has already appeared for questioning following the commission’s summons. It is reported that he appeared before the commission on October 2 and the investigators questioned him regarding the incident and recorded his statement.
The remaining seven employees have been notified to appear before the commission on different days. It has been mentioned in the news that they have been notified to appear for interrogation on October 12, 13, 15 and 16.
Basan Athukorala, the manager of the Speaker’s official residence, has also been investigated earlier based on information allegedly related to the same incident.
He was reportedly interrogated for about five hours, after which his statement was recorded. With this, it appears that the commission is gathering information from various parties regarding the alleged disappearance of the record book.
However, complete answers to questions such as how the logbook disappeared, when it was last used, and the current status of the items mentioned in it may become clear at the end of the investigation.
At this stage, it cannot be said that a final charge or legal decision has been made against any person as the investigation by the authorities continues.
Controversy arose over items related to Kotte House
The issue of the Speaker’s official residence is linked to questions that have already been raised about the use of the residence and the condition of its contents.
According to the information reported in the news, the current Speaker does not live in the Speaker’s official residence located at Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. Instead, he is reported to be living in the state official residence in Kollupitiya, Colombo.
The news also mentioned that the Speaker’s House in Kotte was converted into a Parliamentary Study and Research Center in August 2025.
Meanwhile, mediaperson Uvindu Gurukulsuriya has also reportedly made allegations that some valuables from Kotte’s residence were taken to the official residence in Kollupitiya.
Those items include bed sheets, pillowcases, towels, mattresses and kitchen appliances, according to the news release. The matter has received further attention following reports that a book containing records relating to these items is now missing.
It is administratively important that records relating to the materials used in government official residences are properly maintained. Especially when a home’s use changes or items in it are moved, having information such as their number, condition and location in the records can help with later accounting and accountability.
Against this backdrop, the Bribery Corruption Commission is investigating the alleged disappearance of the register book.
Further information about the status of the record book may be available through the statements obtained from the employees called for inquiry and the available documents. Meanwhile, reports that items have been moved from Kotte’s residence to another location may also be investigated as part of the investigation.
At this stage, as the investigation is not over, it is not possible to say with certainty whether there was any impropriety with regard to the products. The investigation results of the concerned authorities and the official release of the information will determine the next phase of the matter.