Rs. 800,000 Worth Of School Textbooks Sold As Waste Paper

COLOMBO (News 1st); Investigations have revealed that the stock of misplaced school textbooks was allegedly sold to a waste-paper collection center by the driver entrusted with their transport.

The revelation was made during questioning after the Thalangama Police arrested the driver in connection with the incident.

According to police, the suspect, who had been entrusted with transporting the textbooks, sold the stock to a person in Alawwa .

The stock was then resold to a waste-paper collection center in Narammala before being transported to Wattala .

Five suspects, including the lorry driver, have been arrested so far in connection with the incident. They are due to be produced before court today.

The Department of Educational Publications had handed over the textbooks on May 24 for distribution to schools in the Eastern Province.

The consignment included Grade 1 third-term Tamil-language activity books and textbooks, with a total value exceeding Rs. 800,000.

Meanwhile,Secretary of the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa said that the document confirming the handover of the textbooks to the Eastern Province distribution centers had been completed and submitted to the Ministry by the suspect himself.

He further stated that the payments due to the relevant contracting company for transporting the textbooks would not be released.

The Ministry Secretary added that an investigation into the incident is currently underway.