S Lankan President orders suspension of officials arrested for bribery

President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered suspension of a senior official of the Presidential Secretariat and a Chairman of a State corporation on the charges of alleged bribery.

The Bribery Commission arrested the President's Chief of Staff Dr I.H.K. Mahanama and the Chairman of the Timber Corporation P. Dissanayake after they were caught accepting a bribe of Rs 20 million, Colombo Page reported.

They had allegedly asked for a bribe of Rs 100 million from an individual regarding a deal on the shares of a company. They accepted Rs 20 million, as an initial payment, as per media report.

President Sirisena advised the relevant authorities to strictly enforce the law without any influence.

The President's Media Division (PMD) statement said, "This confirms the implementing of the Government's permanent policy against bribery and corruption and the importance of establishing independent commissions."

The President appreciated the independent and impartial background, established by the ruling government to help the law enforcement authorities to fulfill their duty.