• Public backlash following Govt.’s exposure of past deeds
• Lack of accountability; regulation needs fixing

In a village distant from the lights of Colombo, a father sits by the dim glow of a kerosene lamp, poring over a stack of medical bills he is struggling to pay.

His surgery is urgent, and will decide the future of his entire family, but the money simply is not there.

Months earlier, he applied to the President’s Fund, with hopes that help would come. Instead, his request was met with silence, like so many others before him.

Miles away under the city lights, the story is different. Several former Prime Ministers, Ministers, and Parliamentarians and other political figures – people who had walked the halls of power – had been handed millions from the same fund this citizen had turned to only in his most desperate hour.

They would not have faced the questions about their bank accounts, assets or properties that he had been asked? They did not have to plead their case or prove their need. As he stared at the bills, the father could not help but wonder why are the rules different for them? Was this fund truly meant to help the poor and those struggling he questioned? He questioned how there can be justice in Sri Lanka with such issues transpiring?

Backlash

A much needed public debate on the President's Fund emerged when Government Spokesperson Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa recently revealed in the Parliament that 34 former Prime Ministers, Ministers, MPs, and politically affiliated persons including advisors had allegedly received whopping financial aid from the Fund over the past few years. Such allegations have been levelled against the fund for decades. The latest allegation has drawn strong criticism of such practices and the parties involved from the public.  

Jayatissa claimed that these funds, intended to help the poor and the underprivileged, were instead disproportionately used by politicians. According to him, large sums of money have been granted to more than 30 politicians including Rs. 11 million to former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Rs. 10 million to former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Rs. 30 million to the late Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, and Rs. 18 million to the late MP Ranjith De Zoysa. Many parties have since raised concerns about such large amounts of funds being allocated to politicians, which seemingly does not comply with the President's Fund’s objectives.

The Fund

The President's Fund is an institution established under Act No. 7 of 1978 by the Parliament. It was founded with an initial capital of Rs. 237,120, donated during a ceremony marking the tenure of former President J.R. Jayewardene. The Fund operates under the management of the President, with accounts audited annually by the Auditor General. It receives income from the Development Lotteries Board and public donations, aims to provide relief for poverty, promote education and knowledge, and support religious practices and rituals. It also recognises individuals who have served the nation and supports initiatives that the President and the Board believe benefit or interest the public.

In terms of its activities, the Fund offers medical assistance for various illnesses and implements poverty relief programmes to improve livelihoods. It supports educational initiatives like the Mahapola Scholarship Programme and provides scholarships for children who pass the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level (A/L) and Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations, particularly those from low-income families. Grants are also available for religious reforms, construction works, and cultural activities like 'Perahera.' Additionally, accounts maintained in state banks and the Public Trustee Department provide individual benefits at the discretion of the President and the Board.

Public pressure mounts

Speaking to The Daily Morning, S. A. P. Nishantha Gunasekara, a 34-year-old father from the Ratnapura District, has been struggling with a swollen leg since his school days. The lower part of one leg has become abnormally large, and despite seeking treatment at various hospitals for the past two decades, there has been no relief. Doctors believe the swelling is caused by fluid accumulation in the leg. Recently, he has consulted a surgeon at a private hospital, who has suggested a surgery to remove the fluid. The doctor has explained that while this could temporarily improve his condition, the procedure would cost around Rs. 700,000, and the total cost might increase depending on complications.

"I applied for assistance from the President's Fund a few years ago and was informed I could receive only about Rs. 200,000. However, even that amount was not granted. Even if it is granted, I cannot afford the remaining Rs. 500,000 with my current situation. If I could receive some assistance and get the surgery done, I will be able to build my life on my own. Right now, I feel stuck.”

 In the application to seek assistance from the Fund, he said that applicants must provide detailed information about their family’s finances, including bank accounts and properties of the applicant, their parents, spouse, children, and siblings. Gunasekara said that it was surprising to see known wealthy politicians having received millions while ordinary people struggle to access such benefits which are ordinarily reserved to provide the needy with assistance.

A letter sent by the President's Fund to an applicant in June this year is making rounds on social media platforms these days. The letter dated 28 June 2024, explains that the Fund receives a large number of financial assistance requests on a daily basis, but its resources are limited. As a result, it states that financial aid for surgeries and medical treatments is provided based on arrangements approved by the Board of Governors. The letter further states that although the applicant has requested for financial assistance for his heart surgery, it was found that the family has sufficient financial resources to cover the costs. Therefore, it concluded that under the Fund’s provisions, financial support for the relevant request could not be provided.

 Social media users have widely criticised the letter which is currently being circulated. Many have questioned why such a response was not sent to wealthy and politically connected people who received millions from the President's Fund. Others have shared their own experiences, claiming they did not even receive a reply when they requested financial aid. Many are asking why ordinary people are expected to sell their assets or find other ways to raise money while politicians seem to receive preferential treatment. The public anger regarding such incidents are justified, Sri Lanka has a disproportionate distribution of wealth, and the poor need some form of assistance when they face hardship, to find that they were neglected to aid those who are better off, is a bitter pill to swallow.

Mahesh Lakmal, a young resident of Homagama, is of the view that the President's Fund could be used for several other progressive purposes in addition to the provision of financial assistance for medical treatments. He proposed that it be used to support activities like promoting entrepreneurship, generating jobs, and helping marginalised communities. However, he expressed doubts about whether the Fund’s resources are being utilised properly, especially since large sums have reportedly been given to politicians.

“I work as a clothing designer. This could easily grow into a medium-sized business. But finding the initial capital is a challenge, especially in the current situation. Getting a bank loan as a start-up entrepreneur is also not easy. It would be great if part of the money in the President's Fund could be given to start-ups, but I am not sure if that is allowed under the current legal system." Commenting on the recent revelation that millions have been given to individuals who can afford their medical expenses, he said that it is shameful that both the decision-makers allowed this to happen. He also called on the Government to not only release the names of those who received such funds but also ensure these incidents do not happen again. He went on to suggest that if it is legally possible, the Government should recover money given to wealthy politicians and redirect them to meaningful causes.

A medical specialist with many years of experience working in Government hospitals, speaking to The Daily Morning in terms of anonymity, expressed her views on the benefits patients receive from the President's Fund. She said that while most patients expect and need financial help for surgeries, many either do not get any support or find the amount they receive to be too little.

She said: "Today, how many people collect money on buses for surgeries? Some do it to make money, but many are in real need. Most patients in hospitals need money for surgery. They ask us for recommendation letters, and we issue them. But they regularly say they do not get enough help. For a treatment costing around a million, the President's Fund gives about Rs. 300,000. So how do poor patients find the rest?" She agreed that it may not be practical to cover the full cost of treatments, but she said that it is not fair to have one policy for some people and a different policy for others. She also added that it is the responsibility of the authorities to review the criteria for providing financial assistance from the President's Fund, especially with the recent issues that have come to light.

Attempts to contact the Secretary to the President Fund proved futile.

Lack of accountability

Following revelations made by the Government regarding overwhelmingly political beneficiaries of the President’s Fund and the massive sums that they have received, the Presidential Secretariat recently informed that there is no mechanism or process in place at present to ascertain or monitor whether the funds provided to eligible applicants had been utilised for the stated and intended purpose. The Presidential Secretariat Director General (Legal), attorney J.M. Wijebandara, in response to a query by The Daily Morning as to whether there is a mechanism or process to review how the funds granted by the President's Fund are used by the recipients, said: "Currently, there is no such process. It is us (the National People's Power [NPP] Government) who should establish such (a mechanism or process to review whether the funds have been spent in compliance with the purpose presented to the Fund)."

A Member of the Fund's Board of Governors, Ven. Prof. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera, speaking to The Daily Morning, said that the responsibility for reviewing and approving the applications received by the Fund, and checking whether those applications are compliant with the Fund's objectives, lies with the Fund's administrative staff, including the Secretary to the Fund. "It is not the Board of Governors that approves and reviews the process. It is done by the officials of the institution. There is a Secretary for the Fund. The Board of Governors makes decisions. We decide on what purposes we should allocate funds for."