Daya Gamage gets Rs 300 million from Samurdhi fund for tamasha

Colombo (News 1st): It should be noted that the level of bankruptcy of the government is evident by the fact that they are now trying to even sell off the Samurdhi benefit scheme to boost their image. Rs. 10 billion were allocated for the Samurdhi Beneficiary scheme under the budget proposal for 2019. Now what is shameful is the fact that Minister Lakshman Kiriella admitting in parliament that benefits will only flow down to supporters of the United National Party. But however, they have taken a step further proving again that there is no line of shame that this government is not willing to cross to create a better image for themselves. An event will be held on the 30th of this month in Ampara to grant the new Samurdhi beneficiaries with certain certificates. Subject Minister Daya Gamage requested for Rs. 180 million rupees from the Samurdhi Social Security Fund to organize this event and it was granted. It has been pointed out that Daya Gamage requested for another Rs. 120 million, however, Samurdhi Social Security Fund said they want the money to be reimbursed to the fund. The plan is to get the money back to the Samurdhi Social Security Fund from the compulsory deposits of the Samurdhi beneficiaries. In total Rs. 300 million has been allocated for the event, and ironically this money could provide Samurdhi for another 120,000 people in the country. Another fact that should be highlighted is that T-shirts were printed for this event at a cost of Rs. 70 Million. It is also a well-known fact that Minister Daya Gamage owns garment factories, however, News 1st is not completely sure as to whether this was done in one of those factories. But there are instances in the past where ministers have used their political influences to gain personal welfare. The Samurdhi scheme was brought forward to empower the poor in the country and to eradicate poverty. The question lies;

Does awarding these people a certificate of poverty empower them?

Is this the true meaning of uplifting people? 

Now a case is ongoing on where Basil Rajapaksa distributed flag poles to local government authorities using the Samurdhi Fund. And the case is based on misappropriation of funds. If Basil Rajapaksa distributing flagpoles to local authorities using the money of Samurdhi Beneficiaries was misappropriation, the question is why aren't these actions being branded as misappropriation?  And why is the government resorting to such pathetic schemes?