The Free Lawyers Organization has raised concerns over iirregular and excess payments made to beneficiaries under the Aswesuma welfare scheme, prompting calls for a parliamentary investigation, describing the incident as a collapse in state financial management.

Issuing a statement, the Free Lawyers Organization said that in April 2026, benefits were scheduled to be paid to nearly 1.33 million families. However, some recipients received double payments, while others were credited with amounts exceeding the stipulated Rs. 5,000. 

The group compared the incident to the earlier disappearance of USD 2.5 million from the Treasury, warning that both cases highlight serious weaknesses in financial accountability.

The organization stressed that the misuse of state funds outside regulations, without checks and balances, amounts to corruption. 

It urged Parliament, which holds financial powers under Article 148 of the Constitution, to seek immediate answers to the following:

• How many families received double or excess payments out of the 1.8 million due in April?
• Has an investigation been initiated into double payments in Kegalle, Monaragala, and Kurunegala districts?
• What is the total number of beneficiaries who received double or excess payments?
• What is the total amount of money released without scrutiny and accountability?
• Which officials authorized payments outside the procedures of the Welfare Benefits Board?
• Who are the politically appointed officials or commissioners assigned to the Welfare Benefits Board?
• Has any regulatory authority begun a preliminary investigation into this misuse of funds?
• Were financial powers under FR 135 delegated to officials involved, and if so, by whom?
• Has the Treasury conducted a preliminary investigation, and have responsible officials been identified?
• If not, is this a hacker attack, mismanagement, or the result of political appointments without proper knowledge of office procedures?

The Free Lawyers Organization emphasized that the Treasury must now be brought under the control of a senior administrative officer not politically appointed. 

It also urged that recovery of excess payments be carried out administratively, without imposing further hardship on poor families.

The group called on both government and opposition MPs to act swiftly, warning that the credibility of Sri Lanka’s financial management has already been exposed internationally. (Newswire)

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