Sajith recruited over 2,000 workers outside approved cadre: State Minister

‘NHDA burdened with annual expenditure amounting to Rs 1,537 mn’

State Urban Development and Housing Minister Thenuka Vidanagamage yesterday (05) alleged in Parliament that the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) had to allocate Rs. 1,537 mn annually for nearly 2,100 workers recruited from the Hambantota District during Sajith Premadasa’s tenure as the Housing Minister (2015-2019).

State Minister Vidanagamage said that all those workers had been recruited on contract basis contrary to the procedures in place. He said so in response to a query posed by SLPP Gampaha District MP Sahan Pradeep.

According to the State Minister the recruitment of over 2,000 persons was done outside the approved cadre. Claiming that the NHDA lacked facitlites to accommodate them, the State Minister alleged that some of them had been attached to political offices of the then Housing Minister Premadasa. (SF)