Athurugiriya Toll Booth Busted in Multi-Million Rupee Scam

Athurugiriya Interchange Toll Fraud: 22 Cashiers Suspended

A major toll fraud scandal has rocked the Athurugiriya interchange on the Colombo Outer Circular Expressway in Sri Lanka. The Road Development Authority (RDA) has suspended the issuance of tickets at the interchange due to allegations that 22 cashiers, including the chief cashier, were involved in a multi-million rupee scam.

According to an RDA official, the cashiers are suspected of defrauding motorists by not issuing tickets when they paid tolls. This resulted in the stolen money not being recorded in the official toll collection system. Investigations revealed the cashiers might have been carrying out this fraudulent activity for some time.

To address the immediate issue and ensure toll collection continues, the RDA has deployed temporary staff from the Galanigama Interchange to collect payments at the Athurugiriya entrance. These temporary staff will record the entry details of vehicles and collect the appropriate toll fee based on the vehicle type and distance traveled. The collected toll will then be reconciled with the vehicle’s exit details at the Athurugiriya exit booth.

The RDA has assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway to uncover the extent of the fraud and bring those responsible to justice. The stolen funds will be recovered, and the ticketing system at the Athurugiriya interchange will be reviewed to implement stricter security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.