By Hiran Priyiankara Jayasinghe   

A fraud involving Rs. 01mln of montly charity allowances payable to elders and the invalids by the Anamaduwa Divisional Secretariat has come to light and is now being investigated by Public Administration Ministry.   

District Secretary H.M.S.P.Herath said a group of officials in the Social Services Branch and the Accounts Branch of the divisional secretariat and several Grama Niladharies are suspected of their involvement.   

A senior official of the Divisional Secretariat said more than 1000 elders were entitled to the charity allowance of Rs.2000 per month and that payments in 2022 and 2023 had been held up. He said it was paid in arrears amounting Rs. 4900. However the unpaid allowances which had been returned by post offices after the 15th of every month had been misappropriated. 

The District Secretary said the suspect officers were transferred to other divisional secretariats to prevent any possible interference in the ongoing investigations.