Only Ministers and MPs have benefited most from President’s Fund: Minister

18 December 2024 07:52 am Views - 67

• Says the fund was created to assist the poor 

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

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Former Ministers and Parliamentarians have benefited from the President’s Fund as they have been assisted for medical treatment going beyond the purpose for which it was created, Parliament was informed yesterday.   

Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa who came up with the information in the House said a number of former Ministers and MPs have been provided assistance through the fund from 2005 to 2024, which was created to assist the poor.   In addition the Minister said following politicians and individuals  have also been assisted from the fund during the past years.   

P. Harrison, Piyasena Gamage, Sumedha Jayasena, Manoj  Sirisena, P. Dayarathne, S. C. Muthukumarana, Vasudeva Nanayakkara,  Sarath Amunugama, S. B. Nawinna, Dayasiri Jayasekara, P Nishantha de  Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Isura Devapriya, S. A. Jagath Kumara, K. P.  S. Kumarasiri, Jayalath Jayawardena, Namal Gunawardana, Dharmadasa  Banda, Lucky Jayawardana, P. Chandarasekaran, W. M. S. Fonseka, M. K. A.  D. S. Gunawardena   

He said former Presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe have chaired the funds as President’s Fund Act.   

He also said that the Fund’s main purposes are:   

Enabling Sri Lankans to obtain medical treatments   

To foster religions   

To provide educational scholarships   

To appreciate Sri Lankans who have been dedicated to public well-being and rendered outstanding service to the nation   

And for the good of the country, as determined by the President or the Board.