National Freedom Front member and UPFA MP Jayantha Samaraweera was remanded this evening by Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne over the misuse of Presidential Secretariat vehicles, causing the government a loss of Rs 534,000.

This alleged loss has been caused by him when he was the Chairman of the Housing Development Authority.

Samaraweera is said to have accepted money as the rental of the vehicle from the HDA even though the rental was already being paid for the vehicles by the Presidential Secretariat.

The FCID informed court that they have discovered that over Rs 100,000 had been deposited in Samaraweera's accounts.

Samaraweera was arrested by the FCID after he appeared to give a statement on the allegation. He is not the first NFF member to be questioned or arrested over similar complaints. MP Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the NFF, is being investigated over allowing his staff members to use vehicles. He has already been questioned on two days. Meanwhile, NFF Spokesman Mohomad Muzammil is on bail under special circumstances for a similar charge to that of Samaraweera.