Samurdhi beneficiaries of Walpaluwa allege that the Walpaluwa Regional Organizer of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has sold a part of a stock of rice given by the Government to be distributed free among the people of Mahakumbukkadawala Divisional Secretariat.
They said that a stock of rice sacks containing 10 kilos each, which was given by the Government to be distributed among low-income beneficiaries, were distributed at the home of the organizer of the Walpaluwa SJB Regional Organizer and the remaining stock of rice sacks had been secretly sold.
According to Samurdhi beneficiaries, the incident had taken place in the Walpaluva village which belongs to No. 658 A Grama Niladhari Division under the Divisional Secretary’s jurisdiction of Mahakumbukkadawala.
However, the Walpaluwa Samurdhi officer, who came to know about the incident, had confirmed it when he inquired about it from the SJB Regional Organizer and had later gone to the places where rice was sold and confirmed the sales as well. The respective organizer had arranged to provide another stock of rice after the sold rice had not been received.
However, when an inquiry was made about this incident, the Divisional Secretary of MahakumbukkadawalaLakshikaMigellaarachchi said that the relevant person had distributed the rice and the incident had ended there. However, when asked if there will be a further investigation in this regard, she said that such an investigation is not necessary and that the incident ended after another batch of rice was given instead of the rice that was sold. Responding to an inquiry we made, the SJB Walpaluwa Regional Organizer who is the subject of the related accusation said that no such incident had taken place.
Nevertheless, when he was told that the Divisional Secretary of Mahakumbukkadawala had said that instead of the rice that was sold the concerned Regional Organizer had bought rice from another rice mill to be distributed, he hung up the phone without saying anything.
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 – 01:00
