Sri Lanka’s Bribery Commission has launched a formal investigation into alleged bribery linked to a multi-million-dollar cable car project at the Ambuluwawa biodiversity complex, amid accusations of corruption and environmental violations, a state-owned newspaper reported.
The Sunday Observer reported that the Bribery Commission has moved to seize key documents from the Ambuluwawa Trust Fund as part of its probe into the project.
The investigation follows a formal complaint filed by investigative journalist Tharindu Jayawardhana, who has alleged bribery and serious irregularities in the awarding of the project to Amber Adventure (Pvt) Ltd.
According to the report, investigators are examining alleged violations of procurement procedures, including claims that standard tender processes were bypassed to favour a particular developer. The complaint also alleges breaches of Article 23(b) of the National Environment Act.
The Sunday Observer further reported that environmental clearance for the project may have been granted without legally required public consultations. It said the Central Environmental Authority is alleged to have approved the project without mandatory newspaper advertisements or Gazette notifications, raising concerns over transparency and regulatory compliance.
The Ambuluwawa cable car project has drawn sustained public and environmental scrutiny, with critics warning of potential harm to the ecologically sensitive biodiversity zone and questioning the integrity of the approval process.
Officials have not yet publicly commented on the bribery investigation. (Newswire)