Minister Anura Karunathilake informed Parliament yesterday (August 5) that the President’s Fund had been misused by former Ministers and Members of Parliament to provide financial support for the overseas education of their children, relatives, and associates.
According to the Minister, between 2005 and 2014, substantial amounts of public funds were allocated to finance PhDs and other higher education programmes abroad, under the condition that recipients would return to Sri Lanka and serve the nation. However, no records exist at the Presidential Secretariat to confirm that any of these beneficiaries returned to fulfil that obligation.
“Information is lacking regarding the specific conditions under which these funds were disbursed,” Minister Karunathilake told the House, responding to a question raised by NPP MP Ravindra Bandara.
The Minister went on to name several individuals who allegedly benefitted from these allocations:
- Harshana Supun Rajakaruna, son of former Gampaha District MP Sarath Chandra Rajakaruna
- I.N. Kodituwakku, a relative of former Colombo District MP Karunasena Kodituwakku (2006)
- K. Radhakrishnan, a relative of former National List MP V. Radhakrishnan (2006)
- Dinesh Dodangoda, reportedly through political affiliation (2006)
- K.K. Paranavithana (2006)
The Minister revealed that the total amount disbursed for foreign scholarships from the President’s Fund between 2005 and 2014 was over Rs. 192.7 million.
Breakdown by year:
- 2005 – over Rs. 73 million
- 2006 – over Rs. 65 million
- 2007 – over Rs. 33 million for 42 individuals
- 2008 – over Rs. 11 million for 18 individuals
- 2009 – over Rs. 3 million for 4 individuals
- 2010 – over Rs. 3 million for 3 individuals
- 2011 – over Rs. 1 million for 2 individuals
- 2012 – over Rs. 3 million for 2 individuals
- 2014 – over Rs. 700,000 for 1 individual
Minister Karunathilake stressed that there is no evidence that these funds have been recovered or that recipients met the conditions tied to the scholarships. “After reviewing the financial records, it is clear that these disbursements were made without adequate oversight or accountability,” he stated.
