News

News

Ex-chairman denies any misuse of lottery profits
Profits of the Development Lottery had almost doubled during the past two years and the contributions to the President's Fund had been increased accordingly, former Chairman of the Board, J.K. Fernando said.

Rejecting claims that the DLB funds were misused, Mr. Fernando said that during the past two years more prizes such as the 'lucky losers' prize were introdcued and the board was functioning efficeintly before President Kumaratunga took over it, citing irregularities.

Mr. Fernando explained that the turnover of the Development Lottery which was at Rs. 1,900 million during 2001increased to Rs. 2,600 million in the following year and during 2003 it had increased to Rs. 3,500 million. He said a Rs. 5,200 million turnover was the target for this year.

Accordingly the profits from the Development Lottery had increased and the allocation of Rs. 450 million to the President's Fund in 2001 was increased to Rs. 480 million in 2002 while last year's allocation was Rs. 850 million, he said. The Presidential Secretariat earlier said that the take over of the Lottery by the President was due to mismanagement of the funds and various other corrupt practices. Mr. Fernando strongly rejecting the allegations said that the houses built to be distributed among the winners of the draw of the non-winning tickets were constructed through the People's Merchant Bank and there was nothing illegal in it.

He said that among the other prizes were three-wheelers, TV sets, refrigerators and gold jewellery. The State media had alleged that the houses were distributed among known persons.

President Kumaratunga also took over the National Lotteries Board last week giving the same reasons and said that the workers had complained that the funds were being misused.

On Friday the President made new appointments to the Development Lotteries and the National Lotteries Board. Former Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary W.P.S.Jayawardena was appointed as the Development Lotteries Board Chairman while former Treasury Deputy Secretary and Sri Lankan ex-High Commissioner in Malaysia Daya Liyanage has been named as the National Lotteries Board Chairman replacing Mr. Deepal Gunaratne.

Top

Back to News