By The Pulseline News Desk
The President’s Fund has failed to recover nearly Rs. 25 million granted on a repayment basis to a former Prime Minister and a former member of parliament (MP), according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
The two individuals were provided a combined Rs. 40.7 million from the President’s Fund during 2012 and 2014. However, a significant portion of the money remained outstanding as of 20 May 2026, the NAO has observed in its report on the Fund for 2025.
According to the audit observations, the former MP is yet to repay Rs. 10,908,798, while the former Prime Minister owes Rs. 13,748,217.
The outstanding amounts together total Rs. 24,657,015, highlighting continued difficulties in recovering funds that had been provided on a repayable basis.
The audit findings have raised questions over the effectiveness of the mechanisms used by the President’s Fund to recover money granted under repayment arrangements, particularly where substantial public funds remain outstanding for several years.
The President’s Fund is intended to provide financial assistance for humanitarian and social welfare purposes, including support for individuals facing financial hardship. The failure to recover nearly Rs. 25 million from two former political figures could therefore attract renewed scrutiny over the management and recovery of public funds.
The NAO has highlighted the outstanding repayments as part of its observations on the Fund’s financial administration, with the amounts remaining unpaid more than a decade after some of the original disbursements.
The findings are likely to add to wider concerns over accountability and financial discipline in the management of state funds, particularly as the Government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has placed increased emphasis on public-sector accountability and the recovery of funds owed to the State.
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