Buonavista College principal arrested over bribery allegations

The principal of Buonavista College in Galle has been arrested by CIABOC over allegations of demanding and accepting bribes to admit two children to the school.

According to a complaint made by a Galle resident, Buonavista College Principal Hettiarachchige Ranjith Fonseka was arrested at around 6:01 PM on September 7, 2026.

Officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested him inside a shop along the Galle–Habaraduwa Road.

According to the complaint, the principal had initially demanded Rs. 300,000 for each child, amounting to Rs. 600,000, to secure admission for the complainant’s two children.

The amount was later reduced to Rs. 300,000. Of this amount, he allegedly demanded and accepted Rs. 150,000 as a bribe and admitted one of the children to Grade 1 for the 2026 school year.

He is also accused of later demanding and accepting another Rs. 50,000 from the remaining Rs. 150,000 to arrange the admission of the second child to Grade 8. The second child was subsequently admitted to the school.

The principal is further accused of later demanding another Rs. 250,000 for facilitating the admission of both children.

According to the complaint, he had allegedly threatened that both children would be removed from the school if the Rs. 250,000 was not paid.

CIABOC arrested the suspect over allegations of demanding and accepting the Rs. 250,000 as a bribe.

The arrested principal is due to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court.