Two female officers attached to the Norwood Divisional Secretariat have been arrested by the Hatton Division Special Crimes Investigation Unit over allegations of misappropriating millions of rupees from the Aswesuma benefit allowance meant for families facing economic hardship, it was reported.
According to state newspaper Dinamina, Senior Police Officer Pradeep Weerasekara said the suspects, aged 30 and 33, had diverted allowance payments intended for genuine beneficiaries into the bank accounts of their relatives and friends since 2024. Both were serving in the accounts division.
The arrests follow continuous complaints of fraud and irregularities in the distribution of Aswesuma benefits. Investigations were launched after a formal complaint by Norwood Divisional Secretary Sameera Gamlath, while the Nuwara Eliya District Secretary also ordered an internal inquiry. To prevent interference, one suspect was transferred to the Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariat and the other to Talawakele.
Police confirmed the suspects were produced before the Hatton Magistrate’s Court and remanded for two weeks. Preliminary inquiries revealed that between 2023 and 2025, allowance funds had been credited to accounts belonging to relatives and associates of the suspects.
The fraud was further exposed during an audit inquiry conducted by a 10‑member team from the District Secretariat’s audit division and the Ministry of Finance, following an anonymous letter to District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon alleging that beneficiaries had not received their payments.
Investigations are continuing into several other individuals believed to be connected to the case. (Newswire)