The anti-corruption drive launched by the police investigative team in the Sri Lanka telecom, on a directive of President Chandrika Kumaratunga has unearthed several malpractices and corruption committed by certain identified SLT employeed with the connivance of contractors who have undertaken projects for SLT. A Special Media Imformation Centre news release stated that the police who carried out the investigation into the attempted murder of Sriyantha C. Fernando, Head of Human Resources Division of Sri Lanka Telecom have found that this attempt has been made on his life in connection with a case of fraud amounting to Rs. 6.4 million reported by the Internal Audit Department of the SLT against Lanka Logistics International (Pvt.) Ltd. Sriyantha Fernando has initiated disciplinary action against several divisions at SLT, for lapses, especially, corrupt practices.

The Moratuwa police who conducted the initial inquiry on this incident which took place last year has arrested three suspects namely S. M. Prasanna Kumarasiri of Wellampitiya, T. B. A. Pushpakumara of Wellampitiya, N. P. Lal Peiris of Rajagiriya and filed a case in the Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court.

One of the suspects, Lal Peiris is a sub-contractor for Sumitomo, the principal contractor for Telecom to lay cables. The police investigation team is now going into the details to ascertain his direct contact with the SLT officials who had been subject to disciplinary action for fraud amounting to Rs. 6.4 million.

The investigation conducted by the police have revealed that Lanka Logistic International (Pvt.) Ltd. had tendered forged document defrauding Sri Lanka Telecom of Rs. 6,437,888 with the connivance of the Head of Procurement Division of SLT.

There are significant indicators and evidence that the underworld criminals have been used in this attempted murder of Mr. Fernando. In the first instance a hand grenade had been thrown at his house at Moratuwa causing damages to his official vehicles. In the second instance while he was returning home in his car he was fired at and he and his driver received gun shot injuries.

On the initiative of the President the police will launch special investigations to apprehend corrupt officers, who connive with outsiders to defraud public institutions.

The police have initiated further investigation to ascertain whether the top officials of the management who were in office at the time of offering these contract to Lanka Logistic International (Pvt.) Ltd. had any possible links with this fraud.