Jayatissa Denies Rs. 7 Million Claim for Clean Sri Lanka Ceremony

Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa today, 10 January, dismissed allegations made by New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake regarding excessive spending on the Clean Sri Lanka inauguration ceremony held on 1 January.

Dasanayake had accused the government of spending Rs. 7 million on the event, alleging that the funds were used without proper procedures.

Refuting the claim, Jayatissa stated that the approved cost for the event was only Rs. 900,000, and even that amount had not yet been paid. He explained that no funds had been spent on hiring singers, writing songs, or any related activities, and that the Rs. 7 million figure was baseless. He further noted that quotations were obtained as part of standard procedures and suggested that Dasanayake had been misled by these figures or by whoever provided them.

Dasanayake had previously declared he would resign if his allegations were proven false. In response, Jayatissa remarked that while the government was not asking for his resignation, he should refrain from spreading falsehoods.