The former chairman and five other top officials of the Tourism Development Authority too, are being protected similarly.

Premawardena stands accused of having abused more than Rs. seven million of public money during her tenure as a top official in tourism promotion under Basil Rajapaksa’s economic development ministry.

The anti-corruption secretariat has investigated the matter and handed over the task of further investigation to the FCID.

The FCID has completed its investigation and sent a report to the Attorney General’s Department, which has ordered her immediate arrest and court action filed under the public property act.

The AG has also ordered the police to arrest former officials of the Tourism Promotion Authority, including its chairman Bhaswara Gunaratne, director general D.S. Jayaratne and directors Ranasinghege Semasinghe, Don Chandrasiri and Amitha Kithsiri Ranawaka.