The books were intended for Grade 1 Tamil pupils in schools in the Eastern Province for the third term.
Those arrested are an Assistant Manager for the Eastern Province of the Department of Educational Publications and the General Manager of Tashma International in Biyagama.In connection with the incident, a driver employed by the private company was arrested on the 14th of last month and remanded.
Investigations conducted following a complaint lodged on the 12th of last month by N. W. D. Hiroshi Gunawardena, Commissioner of Production and Distribution at the Department of Educational Publications, found that the Biyagama-based company Tashma International had been contractually entrusted with the consignment of 19,892 activity books and textbooks for delivery to 12 centres in the Eastern Province.The complaint alleged that the books had not been delivered as required, thereby constituting a breach of criminal trust. The investigations revealed that the company’s driver had sold the consignment, weighing 1,600 kilogrammes, and received Rs. 47,000.During questioning, the suspect driver reportedly revealed that he had taken delivery of the consignment on 24 May, brought it to his home in Dompe and stored it there. A few days before the sale, he had handed the books over by weight to a lorry collecting old newspapers and broken plastic items and received payment.Police said that, after locating and questioning the lorry driver, it was revealed that he had handed the books over on the same days to a company in the Peliyagoda area that processes old newspapers and paper.
