Former Chairman of the National Transport Commission (NTC) Renuka Perera, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over corruption allegations, has been remanded until September 29 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama after considering submissions made by CIABOC officials and the defence lawyers.

The CIABOC stated that Perera was arrested in connection with allegations of unlawfully issuing route permits for buses during his tenure as NTC Chairman, and thereby causing a loss to the government and providing an unlawful benefit to an external party.

Perera was arrested at around 9.55 a.m. today (17) over allegations that he issued 56 passenger transport service permits for buses to operate on the Southern Expressway, outside the legally prescribed procedures and without collecting the annual fees in a single payment.

The alleged offence is said to have been committed in violation of the provisions of the National Transport Commission Act No. 37 of 1991 and the recommendations of a Cabinet decision dated September 19, 2014.

Renuka Perera, a senior member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), is the party’s Administrative Secretary and has also previously served as Chairman of the state-owned dairy producer and marketer MILCO.