President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered the immediate suspension of his chief of staff Dr. I.K Mahanama and Timber Corporation Chairman P. Dissanayake. 

This comes in the wake of their arrests by the Bribery Commission while accepting a bribe of Rs. 20 million. 

The President has also instructed the law enforcement authorities to strictly implement the law on wrongdoers irrespective of their positions.

It is learnt that the President has given these instructions to Presidential Secretary Austin Fernando and Bribery Commission Director General Sarath Jayamanne.

The two officials have been remanded until May 09 as further investigations into the incident are still underway.