Former Western Province Passenger Transport Authority Chairman arrested

A former Chairman of the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over an alleged Rs. 4.16 million loss to the government.

Opatha Vithanage Prasanna Sanjeewa was arrested at around 9:50 a.m. today (September 15, 2026) by CIABOC investigation officers.

He is accused of violating the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority Statute by issuing passenger transport permits outside the required tender procedure.

CIABOC alleges that the actions caused a loss of Rs. 4,160,000 to the government while providing benefits to external parties, amounting to the offence of corruption.

The suspect is due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.