Admin. officer suspended for soliciting bribe while admitting child to school

An administrative officer at a national school in Galle has been suspended from his services for soliciting a bribe to admit a Grade One student.

The Ministry of Education has launched a special investigation in order to initiate further disciplinary action against the officer.

Officials attached to the Internal Audit division of the Education Ministry upon a tip-off received via the special hotline which was launched recently with the motive of distancing bribery and corruption from the Education sector.

The Education Ministry has already commenced investigations into incidents during which parents have been mislead by school authorities in order to obtain money while admitting their children and while also transferring teachers.

Certain cases are being further investigated by the Bribery Commission and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

(Additional reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)