LNP – SLTB officers remanded for soliciting bribe

Two officials attached to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) Eastern Province Regional Office were remanded till May 9, by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali today over allegations of soliciting a bribe of Rs. 100,000 to influence a disciplinary inquiry.

The suspects, Senior Disciplinary Officer Navarathnam Deviyamahim and Security Officer Thangarajah Kovitharajah, were remanded by the court.

According to the investigation, the complainant, a bus conductor on the Vavuniya-Trincomalee route had been suspended from service for allegedly failing to issue a ticket to a passenger. In an attempt to ensure the disciplinary inquiry would be conducted in a way that would allow the complainant to be reinstated without prejudice, the Senior Disciplinary Officer had solicited a bribe of Rs. 100,000 through the Security Officer. The bribe was accepted by the Security Officer and then handed over to the Senior Disciplinary Officer. Both suspects were apprehended at the SLTB Eastern Province Regional Office