COLOMBO, Aug. 18 -- A Colombo Magistrate's Court on Tuesday (18) released former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on bail after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested him over allegations that he abused his official position to protect his son from an investigation into the theft of a historic archaeological artefact known as the 'Sandagala'.

Rambukwella was arrested on Monday (17) and produced before Colombo Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama, who ordered his release on two personal sureties of Rs 1 million each and directed him to surrender his passport to court.

CIABOC officers told court that Rambukwella's son, Ramit Rambukwella, had stolen the historically significant artefact with the...