Jathika Sampatha lottery introduced

Sandasen Marasinghe

The National Lottery Board yesterday introduced a new lottery to the market named Jathika Sampatha with attractive prizes and a super draw of Rs 10 million.

The first lottery ticket of the Jathika Sampatha after its inauguration was handed over to Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka at an auspicious time at the

Prime Minister’s Office by National Lottery Board Chairman Chaminda Athuluwage. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka wished the lottery success and a bright future.

The first draw of the new lottery Jathika Sampatha will take place on March 3, 2010. The lottery will be drawn each Wednesday and Saturday. Ten percent of the income of the Jathika Sampatha lottery draw on Wednesday will be allocated to the Health Ministry.

A similar percentage will be allocated to the Labour Fund of the Labour Ministry out of the income of the lottery draw on Saturday.

The Super Draw of the Jathika Sampatha will be Rs 10 million. There are Rs two million first prizes and a large number of prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1,000 Rs 100, Rs 50 and Rs 20.

The Suwasetha Lottery which is drawn on Wednesday and on Sunday and the Shrama Wasana Lottery drawn on Sunday will be replaced by the Jathika Sampatha lottery draws.

Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne explained that the money channelled through the lottery would be utilized for the welfare of workers and the members of their families. Previous government allocations were not adequate for these purposes.

Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilake stated that it was better if there were a mechanism to get funds for the Ministry to maintain the free health service and the lottery would fill the vacuum to a certain extent.

National Lottery Board Working Director H.G. Sirisena and Directors U.R. Seneviratne, Ravi Abeywardene, J. Sri Warnasinghe, P.D. Pushpakumara were also present at the occasion.