Mahinda Senarath Polwatta, a Grama Niladhari suspected of involvement in a fraudulent scheme to secure admissions for students at Katugastota St. Anthony Girls’ College, appeared before Kandy Additional Magistrate Mohammad Rafi yesterday (05). He has been remanded until the 19th.
The arrest of Grama Niladhari Gangavata Korala No. 251, the former Grama Niladhari of Senkadagala division, was carried out by a team of officers from the Kandy Special Criminal Investigation Division yesterday afternoon (05).
During the police investigation, it was discovered that there were numerous phone conversations between Sarathchandra Dasanayake, who had previously been arrested for preparing fraudulent documents for parents seeking admission to the classes of St. Anthony Girls’ High School, and the suspected Grama Niladhari.
According to the police, the Grama Niladhari allegedly provided false residence certificates, even using shop numbers in Senkadagala, to facilitate the admission of students. Disturbingly, there are instances where two individuals were issued residence certificates with the same number.
One of the revealed instances involved a residence certificate falsely indicating employment with the Police Special Task Force, attributing a person from a private company as an employee.
Further investigations have uncovered several suspected counterfeit documents, including residence certificates containing false information, submitted for the admission of children to St. Anthony Girls’ High School.
Under the guidance of Kandy Senior Superintendent of Police Chamil Ratnayake, Chief Inspector WMS Uvindasiri, Police Inspector S. Sanjeeva, and Police Sergeant Hettiarachchi conducted the investigations leading to the arrest of the suspect.
