President calls for strict legal action against officials arrested on bribery charges

Colombo (News1st) - On Thursday  (May 3rd), President Maithripala Sirisena issued an order to immediately interdict President's Chief of Staff Dr. I. K. Mahanama and Chairman of the State Timber Corporation P. Dissanayake. The president had instructed authorities to enforce legal action against them without any obstruction. The President's Chief of Staff and the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation were arrested on Thursday at a five-star hotel in Colombo by personnel from the Bribery Commission when soliciting a bribe of Rs. 20 million. The suspects were produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara last night (May 3), and were remanded until May 9. A statement by the President's Media Division stated this measure established the implementation of the government's sustainable policy towards combatting corruption and bribery, and the importance of establishing independent commissions. The president notes he is pleased with the independent and unbiased environment created under the present government for government officials to enforce law accordingly. Meanwhile, various views were expressed today regarding the circumstances behind the arrest. WATCH VIDEO FOR MORE DETAILS