Monaragala Disaster Relief Officer Suspended and Arrested Over Ditwa Compensation Bribery

A disaster relief officer at the Monaragala Divisional Secretariat has been suspended from duty and subsequently arrested following allegations of bribery concerning Ditwa cyclone compensation payments. The officer is accused of soliciting and accepting a LKR 100,000 bribe from a LKR 2 million compensation payment intended for a woman whose house was damaged by the cyclone. The arrest was made by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). In connection with the ongoing inquiry, a Grama Niladhari also facing accusations has been transferred to another division to facilitate investigations. The Government Information Department confirmed the suspension and stated that a formal investigation into the incidents is currently underway.