A forest field assistant attached to the Buttala Beat Forest Office has been arrested over allegations of soliciting and accepting a Rs. 10,000 bribe, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said.
The suspect, identified as Sanath Kumara of Hewalunuwila, was arrested on October 8 evening at the Buttala bus stand.
According to CIABOC, the officer had allegedly accepted money on several occasions to allow a complainant to continue cultivating chena on approximately three acres of government land in the Hewalumankada area without facing legal action over the unauthorised felling of trees.
He had allegedly requested and accepted Rs. 10,000 as a monthly payment for October 2026 to continue facilitating the arrangement.
The suspect is due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)