• Alleges Rs. 7 m spent on launch outside proper procurement process
• House Leader requests evidence of same 

New Democratic Front Opposition Parliamentarian Chamara Sampath Dasanayake alleged that Rs. 7 million was spent on the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project outside the proper procurement process, which in turn led to the President’s Secretariat officers refusing to issue the relevant cheques, in turn resulting in the project being deemed a failure from its inception.

Speaking in the Parliament yesterday (9), he alleged that the Government spent Rs. 7 million on the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project, including Rs. 200,000 allegedly paid to a singer, Rs. 15,000 to models who attended the event, Rs. 700,000 for the theme song, and Rs. 2.1 million to create the website.

“The due procurement process has not been followed with regard to spending this Rs. 7 million. The Presidential Secretariat Accountant has refused to issue the relevant cheque. You (the Government) will have to pay this sum from the fund in Pelawatte (a reference to the National People’s Power fund). If the Government can prove that I am wrong, I will step down as an MP. This project failed at the inception itself.”

He also commented on the establishment of a fund dedicated for the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project, claiming that the Government has established it through a Deputy Treasury Secretary instead of under the Presidential Secretariat. 

“If a statutory fund is to be established, it should be brought before the Parliament. The Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024 prevents statutory funds from being established. Because of this, the Government has established it under a Deputy Treasury Secretary. On that day (inauguration ceremony), a few cheques were handed to the said project. Apart from that, no one has come forward to support it. The Government should admit it,” he stated.

Speaking further, Dasanayake said that the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project is a good move, and added that they as Opposition MPs would not obstruct it.

In response to Dasanayake, Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake said: “It is under the Treasury that government funds can be formed. That is the correct way.” He also queried Dasanayake as to whether he could provide any document pertaining to his statement on the alleged expenditure of Rs. 7 million on the project, and Dasanayake replied saying that he would table the relevant documents in the Parliament.