A debate was held in Parliament today regarding the government’s decision to allocate Rs. 6,000 to provide stationery for children living in poverty. The government emphasized that parents’ poverty should not hinder children’s education, which prompted this decision.
During the debate, the Chief Organizer of the Government Party, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, provided details about the financial provisions for this grant. He also revealed controversial information about payments made from the President’s Fund to politicians between 2005 and 2024, without the knowledge of the public or Parliament.
A detailed explanation was presented on how millions of rupees from the President’s Fund, established under the President’s Fund Act No. 07 of 1978, were allocated to politicians. The act originally aimed to support:
1. Relief from poverty
2. Promotion of education or knowledge
3. Promotion of religion or maintenance of religious practices
4. Donations to those who served the nation
5. Any other welfare or good as decided by the President or the Board
Dr. Jayatissa revealed the following:
“When we try to assist children, we look to resources such as the President’s Fund. However, this fund, meant to support education, religion, and national welfare, has been allocated differently. I have with me a list of payments made from the President’s Fund from 2005 to 2024.
Here are some names of those who received money from the fund:
– P. Harrison
– Piyasena Gamage
– Sumeda Jayasena
– Manoj Sirisena
– P. Dayaratne
– S.C. Muthukumarana
– Vasudeva Nanayakkara
– Sarath Amunugama
– S.B. Nawinna
Several names appear to be aliases or initials disguising well-known individuals, such as:
– JPDPK Jayasekara, which corresponds to Dayasiri Padmakumara Jayasekara from the Kurunegala District.
– H.M.P.N. De Silva from Kalutara District, identified as Piyal Nishantha De Silva.
– S.A.D.S. Premajayantha from Nugegoda, identified as Susil Premajayantha.
– E.A.I.D.D. Perera, identified as Isura Devapriya Dharmasena Perera.
Further, large sums were given to various politicians, including:
– S.A. Jagath Kumara: Rs. 1 million
– K.P.S. Kumarasiri: Rs. 953,430
– Vidura Wickramanayake: Rs. 1.5 million
– John Amaratunga: Rs. 4 million
– T.B. Ekanayake: Rs. 4.8 million
– Jayantha Weerasinghe (Legal Advisor to Mahinda Rajapaksa): Rs. 90 lakh
– Rajitha Senaratne: Rs. 10 lakh
– Keheliya Rambukwella (treatment abroad): Rs. 11 lakh
– MKAD S. Gunawardena: Rs. 112 lakh
– Ranjith Zoysa: Rs. 188 lakh
– D.M. Jayaratne: Rs. 30 lakh
In total, Rs. 122.5 million was distributed to individuals under questionable categories. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens struggle to access even Rs. 200,000 or Rs. 300,000 from the same fund for life-saving medical treatments.
From 2005 to 2024, the chairmanship of this board was held by Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe. Yet, neither Parliament nor the public was informed about these allocations.
The misuse of these funds highlights an urgent need for transparency. While the government claims it cannot create money, it is evident that funds meant for welfare are being mismanaged.”
