No misuse of public funds at Temple Trees, says Weeratunga

by Rohan Mathes

Lalith Weeratunga, the Secretary to the Prime Minister, in response to the allegations made by the UNP Deputy Secretary General Tissa Attanayake in a letter to him (Weeratunga), told the Daily News that all the allegations were totally false sans any substantial evidence to support them.

Lalith Weeratunga said, "all those accusations that public funds are being used to hold lavish dinners at Temple Trees are totally false and baseless and tantamount to a threat made to a public official."

"Furthermore, The Government has not spent any funds for entertainment, and neither have I authorised any payment for the same. I will respond to them shortly," he said.

In his letter to Weeratunga, Attanayake said:"The United National Party has noted with dismay the abuse of public funds by the Prime Minister in using his official residence, 'Temple Trees', for political purposes. In recent weeks, lavish lunches and dinners have been regularly and routinely hosted for thousands of people at sate expense at 'Temple Trees' at which the Prime Minister has openly promoted his political agenda as a candidate in the presidential election. This is abuse not only of public funds, but of public property.

On behalf of the UNP I am hereby putting you on notice that as Secretary to the Prime Minister and chief accounting officer of the Prime Minister's Office, you will personally be held accountable for the misuse of public funds and public property by your office for political purposes. Be informed that it is the view of the UNP that such actions on the part of a public officer are a disgrace to the public service and an insult to the people of Sri Lanka.

Action will be taken to conduct a full inquiry into these abuses, bring all offenders to book and recover all misappropriated funds."