Action against bribe taking PC members

Rasika Somarathna

Three Provincial Council members who took bribes with the promise of providing sanitary labourer jobs in hospitals are to be taken to task, according to Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. Minister Sirisena while handing over appointment letters to 850 new hospital sanitary labourers at the John de Silva theatre yesterday, said that he had information regarding three bribe taking PC members, a Ministry spokesman said.

The Minister said that disciplinary action would be initiated against the three members during the SLFP Central Committee meeting tomorrow.

“They will be expelled if they are found guilty,” he added.

The spokesman quoting the Minister said that the three members had taken Rs150,000 each from two persons and Rs 75,000 from another. He said that the Minister also possessed bank deposit slips to prove the matter.

The Minister had requested the public to furnish details if bribe taking had taken place previously. Minister Sirisena said that the Government would not hesitate to take strict action against any individual found guilty of bribery and corruption within the state sector, the spokesman said.