Sri Lanka, Sept. 25 -- The former secretary to Badulla District Parliamentarian Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been remanded until the 9th over allegations that he solicited and received a Rs. 8.1 million bribe from three companies involved in phosphate imports.

The suspect, identified as Liyanarachchige Sumathipala Liyanarachchi, was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, who ordered that he be further remanded.

Investigating officers informed the court that the suspect had been arrested over an alleged offence under the Bribery Act.

According to the investigators, arrangements had allegedly been made outside the prescribed procedures to facilitate the importation of phosphate by three selected companies, with...