Investigations have been launched into an alleged misappropriation of the ‘Aswesuma’ allowance at the Kataragama Divisional Secretariat.

Divisional Secretary Prageeth Kulathilaka informed Kataragama Police that an official attached to the Secretariat is suspected of unlawfully obtaining an allowance belonging to a beneficiary.

He stated that a Kataragama resident complained that his allowance, including arrears from 2023, had been credited to a bank account opened using his National Identity Card number at a private bank branch in Alawwa.

The relevant bank has been requested to temporarily suspend the account, while Kataragama Police have commenced further investigations.