Api Wenuwen Api Fund generates over Rs. 434 million till June

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Chief Government whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday the Api Wenuwen Api Fund has received over Rs. 434.3 million from individuals, institutions and other organisations upto June 10, 2009.

The Minister said no Government funds have been given to this Fund from the date on which it was launched up to now.

And the entire Api Wenuwen Api Fund is being operated from the donations made by individuals and various other organizations. The Minister was responding to an oral question raised by the JVP MP Ajith Kumara. The Government through publicity carried out on television and radio advertisements requests the public to contribute money to the Api Wenuwen Api Fund.

However, no expenditure has been incurred on the publicity work of the Fund as the state and private media institutions carried out this publicity work free.

Minister Gunawardene said no money of this fund has been utilised for the construction of houses at Ipalogama in Anuradhapura for those serving in the three Armed Forces and police. This housing project is being carried out on a loan obtained from the Bank of Ceylon.

When transferring these houses to the war heroes, a funds will be provided from the Api Wenuwen Api Fund. "It is hoped to provide 1509 houses to war heroes before the end of this year by the Ipalogama project which is due to be completed", he said. Asked on the procedure adopted to allocate houses under this project, the Minister said selections would be done by the Defence Ministry based on the qualifications.