Sri Lanka, Aug. 1 -- Former Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Special Projects, S.M Chandrasena, was released on bail today by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga.

The court granted the suspect cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 5 million each. A travel ban was also imposed.

Chandrasena is accused of influencing officials at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat in 2014 to distribute seed paddy worth Rs. 25 million, allocated for low-income farmers, among his political affiliates ahead of the 2015 election, allegedly causing a loss to the state.

Officers from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) informed the court that the investigation was largely complete an...