Government nicks 47 billion from Samudhi Fund in the guise of Covid-19 relief!

Secretary of the Samurdhi Development Officers' Association Chamara Maddumakaluge has revealed that the government has obtained Rs. 47 billion from the Samurdhi Fund for Covid-19 subsidies but has not reimbursed it.

He noted that the banking system is in jeopardy as the money had been taken but not credited into the Samurdhi account.

He points out that although his union is not opposed to providing any relief to the people, the banking system itself has suffered a serious setback as the money was obtained illegally.

Although this sum of Rs. 47 billion was taken, no proposal has been made in the budget or in any way to reimburse it. The government has given the allowance of Rs. 5,000 not only to Samurdhi recipients but to all government servants, he said, adding that by this, the Samurdhi banking network has been jeopardized.