Only ministers, MPs have benefited most from President’s Fund: Govt.

17 December 2024 05:48 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Former Ministers and MPs have disproportionately benefited from the President's Fund, receiving financial assistance for medical treatment that goes beyond the fund's original purpose, Parliament was informed today.

Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa revealed in the House that a number of former Ministers and MPs had received assistance from the fund, which was originally intended to support the poor and underprivileged.

Former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella received Rs. 11 million, while Rajitha Senaratne was granted Rs. 10 million. Former Minister Alek Aluvihare received Rs. 2.2 million, and his son Ranjith Aluvihare, a former MP, received Rs. 4.6 million. The fund also released Rs. 30 million to former Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne. Former MP Rajith Soysa received Rs. 18 million, while former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera was given Rs. 2.7 million. John Amaratunga received Rs. 4 million, and former MP Wimalaweera Dissanayake was provided Rs. 3 million. Vidura Wickramanayake was also granted Rs. 1.5 million.

In addition, the Minister stated that Manoj Sirisena, Dayasiri Jayasekera, P. Harrison, P. Dayaratne, former Chief Minister of the Western Province Isura Devapriya Perera, and Piyal Nishantha de Silva have also received assistance from the fund in recent years.

He further pointed out that the President's Fund has been chaired by former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Ranil Wickremesinghe in accordance with the President's Fund Act.

Comments - 14

ROHINI Tuesday, 17 December 2024 06:35 PM

Those who pledged to serve the people to get power did serve ,not the people But themselves. Do they have a CONSCIENCE?

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Misused Funds Must Be Returned Immediately Tuesday, 17 December 2024 06:47 PM

Totally unfair! They must be made to pay it back immediately to the President’s fund. If not, seize their property to top up the misused funds. Hope these greedy and shameless fellas do the right thing by paying up immediately or face the consequences in this life or their next life.

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E Sarath Tuesday, 17 December 2024 07:31 PM

Just imagine the way, our past Presidents have approved colossal amounts of funds to their henchmen in parliament. In fact this fund is meant to help the less fortunate ones, poor and middle class sick persons who are unable to pay for their health bills and urgent surgeries. Very unfairly and heartlessly parliamentarians have obtained colossal sums of money without any qualms to get overseas treatment from President’s fund. Only a pittance had been approved to the general public after sending them from pillar to post. Surprisingly, how dare the Audit Boards and Committees didn’t timel observe this discrepancy. Seems to be they’re also hand-in-glove in this racket. Persons who conducted audits so far also should be held responsible for this crime. Therefore the members of the audit team who failed to highlight should also be held responsible for not pointing out this crime on time.

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johan Tuesday, 17 December 2024 07:34 PM

Birds flocked together and ate the Poor man's privileges

0 19

Carl Tuesday, 17 December 2024 07:46 PM

PAY IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE.

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TRUTH Tuesday, 17 December 2024 08:57 PM

KEHELIYA RECEIVED Rs MILLION, RAJITHA RECEIVED Rs 10 MILLION for health matter. what about ordinary people?

0 20

Insider Tuesday, 17 December 2024 10:44 PM

Unconscionable acts by these who apparently came to serve. Some are dead and gone but the living wrongdoers should be asked to reimburse if they have not met with the criteria for dispensing these funds.

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Mohideen NA Tuesday, 17 December 2024 10:50 PM

When the people need assistance by the government especially for Cardiology treatment / operation the private hospital gives us a form to be filled and get a grant of Rs 3 lakhs which we have to rally around from government office to office to get money, where as the Ministers stories are different

0 19

Gt Tuesday, 17 December 2024 11:50 PM

Recover it with added 1000% interest or lock them up for life

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Charith Wednesday, 18 December 2024 02:25 AM

Previously many MPs used the Presidential Fund to finance medical procedures at world class overseas hospitals, primarily to Singapore.

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Charith Wednesday, 18 December 2024 02:33 AM

Going forward, should ban any MP from personally benefitting from the Presidential Fund. It was primarily established to benefit the poor and underprivileged.

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Nihal S Wednesday, 18 December 2024 03:43 AM

Let us wait to see if any of those mentioned have comments. Dayasiri Jayasekara gave big talks in the Parliament recently. The payment must be the bribe to change sides.

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Spartacus Wednesday, 18 December 2024 09:29 AM

The main funder for Presidents Fund is the Lottery Board which is a den that makes its gambling with the poorest of the poor. Where are the Mahanayake Priests on this? They are quiet because this fund benefits them also. In the end, it is the poorest of the poor for which this fund was installed who do not gain anything or rather a pittance. There should be a law not allowing Ministers to access this fund otherwise Public needs to Boycott buying Lottery Tickets.

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Lion Wednesday, 18 December 2024 10:31 AM

They consider our country as their property and we are their subjects

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