Rs. 100 Mn Unaccounted For? Samurdhi Irregularities During Daya Gamage’s Tenure

COLOMBO (News 1st): A complaint has been lodged with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over a series of alleged irregularities said to have taken place within the Samurdhi Department during the tenure of former Minister Daya Gamage.

The complaint was submitted by the Samurdhi Employees' Trade Union Federation, which claims that a number of controversial decisions and financial transactions carried out during the former minister's tenure warrant a formal investigation.

Speaking after submitting the complaint, Chairman of the Samurdhi Employees' Trade Union Federation, Somasiri Liyanage, alleged that several permanent appointments had been granted unlawfully during 2019 when Daya Gamage served as the subject minister under the government led by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

According to Liyanage, appointments were allegedly made to positions such as computer assistants and support staff, with permanent status and pension entitlements. He claimed that the trade unions at the time had raised concerns that the appointments were irregular and did not comply with proper procedures.

He further alleged that the appointments represented financial irregularities carried out through an unlawful process under instructions that originated at the ministerial level.

Liyanage also claimed that a national-level event organized during Daya Gamage's tenure was used for political promotional activities and that the selection of Samurdhi beneficiaries at the time was influenced by political affiliations, personal connections and political loyalties.

He said trade unions had raised concerns with the media at the time regarding what they believed were irregular beneficiary selection processes, but alleged that no action was subsequently taken by the authorities.

The union leader further claimed that funds belonging to the Samurdhi Department had been used to finance activities connected to the event and other related programmes aimed at political promotion.

Among the allegations submitted to the Bribery Commission is a claim that approximately Rs. 100 million belonging to the Samurdhi Department's microfinance division remains unaccounted for.

Liyanage also alleged that an additional Rs. 135 million had been obtained from the Social Security Fund, which was established using public funds for the benefit of the community.

He claimed that when attempts were made to recover those funds, deductions were eventually made through benefits intended for low-income Samurdhi recipients, while those responsible avoided accountability.

The Samurdhi Employees' Trade Union Federation has requested the Bribery Commission to investigate what it describes as financial irregularities and alleged fraud connected to the management of public funds during the period in question.