Selection of beneficiaries: Absolutely no action taken against those who engaged in irregularities – COPF

The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has questioned the Finance Ministry over its failure to address irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries by the Welfare Benefits Board.The COPF has directed the officials of the Welfare Benefits Board to give priority to the criteria that could be verified and determined in order to accurately identify poverty in the selection of beneficiaries.

According to a statement issued by parliament, the COPF has pointed out that selection could be based on the electricity bill amount considering the electricity units consumed in each home.

The Committee pointed out that there were major problems and lack of formality in the criteria used in the selection of relief beneficiaries, and advised them to rectify the shortcomings as soon as possible. The officials of the Ministry of Finance told the Committee that they would make appropriate changes in the selection of relief beneficiaries.

The matter was taken up for discussion when the Committee on Public Finance met in Parliament early this week under the chairmanship of (Dr.) Harsha de Silva.

Furthermore, the amendment to the regulations under section 27 of the Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002 published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2382/02 dated 29.04.2024 was considered by the Committee.

The members of the Committee alleged that huge corruption and irregularities took place in the manual recording of data by public servants involved in the selection of beneficiaries. Accordingly, the COPF advised the Ministry of Finance to conduct the entire process from collecting necessary data to the selection of relief beneficiaries only via electronic means.

The COPF pointed out that legal action hadn’t been taken against those who perpetrated irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries. The COPF has emphasised that the failure on the part of the ministry to take action against culprits would only encourage such corrupt practices.

Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Johnston Fernando, M. A. Sumanthiran, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Nimal Lanza, Madhura Withanage, Mayantha Dissanayake, and other government officials were present at this Committee meeting.