A 37-year-old man has been arrested for selling train tickets at exorbitant prices to foreign tourists.
The Police said 21 train tickets, Rs. 130,670 of cash earned through the scam, 130 record books, and a mobile phone had been seized from the suspect.
The suspect was arrested in the Suduhumpola area in Kandy yesterday based on a tip-off.
Last week, Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena raised concerns over a large-scale racket related to e-tickets for train services to Ella after all tickets were sold out 42 seconds following the launching of online tickets.
Addressing the Kandy District Coordination Committee meeting, the Deputy Minister disclosed information on this racket, stating that a complaint had also been filed with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena noted there have been cases where groups that buy all the online tickets immediately are later seen selling a ticket worth Rs. 2,000 for Rs. 16,000 to foreigners.
Stating that the racket selling train tickets at higher prices is being carried out centred on the Colombo-Fort, Kandy and Ella railway stations, he said three-wheelers parked near the railway station premises are found to be supporting it. (Newswire)
