President’s Chief of Staff & Timber Corp. Chairman Suspended
The Chief of Staff of the President I.H.K Mahanama and the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation P. Dissanayake, who were arrested on charges of soliciting a bribe have been remanded.
The order was issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara last night.
They were arrested last evening in Colombo and were produced before the Magistrate at his official residence around midnight when they were remanded till the 9th of May.
The duo had allegedly demanded 560 million rupees from an Indian investor for the approval of a project.
On the request of the Indian investor, the President’s Chief of Staff K Mahanama and the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation P Dissanayake had reportedly agreed to settle for 100 million rupees in a bid to grant approval for the investor’s project.
The duo was arrested while soliciting a bribe amounting to 20 million rupees as part of the first instalment.
The Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Neville Guruge said the suspects were arrested by officers of the Bribery Commission.
Followed by this, they have been suspended from services.
Secretary to the President Austin Fernando said the order for their suspension have been issued.
The President’s Media Division issuing a statement said President Maithripala Sirisena has issued directives to ensure that the law is strictly enforced against the two individuals charged over soliciting a bribe.
The President highlighted that the implementation of the government’s stance pertaining to a permanent policy against bribery and corruption and the importance of establishing independent commissions paid off.
President also commended the independent and impartial action taken against the two individuals regardless of rank.
