Farmers’ pension bankrupt after releasing monies to Mavilaru farmers – Dr. Amunugama

Sunday, 01 December 2013 

Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama says that the farmers’ pension scheme became bankrupt after releasing monies from the pension fund to pay compensation to the farmers affected by the closure of the Mavilaru anicut in 2006.

Dr. Amunugama has made this comment in parliament in response to a question posed by an opposition parliamentarian.

The deputy minister has said that Rs. 120 million was taken from the farmers’ pension fund to pay Rs. 25,000 for an acre of paddy land owned by 2,918 farmers.

Dr. Amunugama has added that the Fort Magistrate’s Court is currently into an alleged fraud that had been committed in making compensation payments to the Mavilaru farmers.

The allegation of misappropriating monies due to Mavilaru farmers has been directed at President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s lackey, Special Projects Minister S.M. Chandrasena.