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

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.