Audit Committee to probe financial irregularities at Divisional Secretariats in N'Eliya

Steps have been taken to appoint an audit committee under the supervision of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to investigate alleged financial irregularities at Divisional Secretariats in the Nuwara Eliya District.

Nuwara Eliya District Development Committee Chairman and Member of Parliament Manjula Suraweera Arachchi revealed this in a statement.

Accordingly, audits are scheduled to be conducted at 10 Divisional Secretariat offices in the Nuwara Eliya District, covering the period from 2023 to 2026.

Special attention will be paid to the alleged fraud involving ‘Aswesuma’ beneficiary payments at the Norwood and Talawakelle Divisional Secretariats.

The audit will also examine whether disaster relief payments were properly distributed to people affected by Cyclone Ditwah, as well as the Rs. 5,000 allowance provided through the Samurdhi programme to low-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the committee will investigate whether government subsidies and allowances provided to Samurdhi beneficiaries and senior citizens were properly paid to the intended recipients.

MP Manjula Suraweera Arachchi also requested beneficiaries to provide him with any information they may have regarding such irregularities before the audit begins.