Two former top officials arrested over corruption allegations

Colombo, Nov. 3 (Daily Mirror) - A former General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways and a former Executive Director of the Sri Lanka State Engineering Corporation were arrested this morning by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on alleged corruption charges.

The suspects, Sumathipala Mahanama Abeywickrama, former General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways, and Sarathchandra Gunaratne Jayathilaka, former Executive Director of the State Engineering Corporation, were taken into custody after arriving at the Commission to record statements.

According to the Bribery Commission, Abeywickrama was arrested for allegedly altering a disciplinary order issued by the then General Manager of Railways, B.A.P. Ariyaratne, against a train driver, I.L.K. Dissanayake, who had been ordered to be dismissed with immediate effect. The former GM is accused of changing the decision, thereby acting in a manner that benefited the employee.

Meanwhile, Jayathilaka was arrested for allegedly causing a financial loss of Rs. 1.67 million to the State Engineering Corporation by using its employees and property to renovate the United National Party headquarters, “Sirikotha,” without following proper procedures — resulting in undue benefit to the party.

Both suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.