Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has raised serious concerns in Parliament about the financial irregularities surrounding the “Clean Sri Lanka” program, claiming that Rs. 7 million was spent on its inaugural ceremony alone. The MP asserted that he has documentary evidence to support his claims and pledged to resign if proven wrong.
According to Dassanayake, Rs. 2 million was spent on singing performances at the event, while an additional Rs. 800,000 was allocated for the creation of songs. He further alleged that models involved in the program were paid Rs. 15,000 each, and Rs. 2.1 million was spent on developing the program’s official website.
The MP accused the Presidential Secretariat of bypassing standard tender procedures, stating that payments were authorized through improper channels, including the Pelwatte fund, rather than the official account of the Presidential Office. He claimed that the expenditures violated the Public Finance Management Act No. 44 of 2024, which prohibits the establishment of statutory funds without parliamentary approval.
Dassanayake expressed concern over the lack of accountability and proper documentation for these expenses, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. He emphasized that the irregularities undermine public trust and raise serious questions about the management of taxpayer funds.
The allegations have drawn sharp criticism from opposition members, who have demanded a full investigation into the matter. Government officials have yet to issue a formal response.
