LDAPsearch with SSL Centos- ldap_start_tls, ldap_bind: Cannot contact LDAP

I am working on a integrating LDAP authentication with my PHP Project deployed on a Linux platform. I successfully completed the ldapsearch from command line and from php code for NON SSL connection.

When it comes to SSL connection, I am not able to make it work. I am thinking if I can make the ldapsearch work from commandline, dealing with php side won't be a problem. I am using CentOS and below is my search result query pattern - which works for non-SSL request on port 3268 but fails for port 3269 with two errors ldap_start_tls: Can't contact LDAP server (-1) and ldap_bind: Can't contact LDAP server (-1). I have searched for this query and it lead me to pages which talk about Kerboros authentication, which I don't want. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

SSL

    [Test]$ ldapsearch -x -h ldap.internal.company.com -D "CN=personName,OU=EUS,
            DC=company,DC=com" -p 3269 -b "dc=company,dc=com" 
            samaccountname=personName -Z "/etc/openldap/cacerts/test.cer" 
             -w "<<MyPassword>>"
        ldap_start_tls: Can't contact LDAP server (-1)
        ldap_bind: Can't contact LDAP server (-1)

Non-SSL

       [Test]$ ldapsearch -x -h ldap.internal.company.com -D "CN=personName,
      OU=EUS, DC=company,DC=com" -p 3268 -b "dc=company,dc=com"            
       samaccountname=personName -Z "/etc/openldap/cacerts/test.cer" -w 
          .....
          ...
         //Gives valid output

A few things you could try:

in ldap.conf add this:

TLS_REQCERT never

And in your ldapsearch string:

-H ldaps://ldap.internal.company.com:3269

Instead of:

-h ldap.internal.company.com -p 3269