On the advice of Minister Prasanna, further investigations related to the alleged financial fraud

On the advice of Minister Prasanna, further investigations related to the alleged financial fraud

On the advice of Minister Prasanna, further investigations related to the alleged financial fraud in the Kalutara district office of the National Housing Development Authority to the Criminal Investigation Department....

 Already suspended 9 officials, investigations against 4 others...

The General Manager of the Housing Development Authority,  Engineer KA Janaka, said that in addition to the investigations being carried out at the institutional level regarding the alleged financial fraud in the Kalutara District Office of the National Housing Development Authority, the investigations are being handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department.

Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had informed the authority yesterday (27) to give him an immediate report on the measures taken so far by the National Housing Development Authority regarding the alleged financial fraud in the Kalutara district office.

The General Manager of the Housing Development Authority said that this decision was taken as per his instructions after giving the relevant report yesterday (27th) to the Minister in Charge Mr. Prasanna Ranatunga.

The General Manager, who denies the allegations leveled in the media recently that the head office of the National Housing Development Authority has not conducted a proper investigation into this financial fraud, said that the first complaint in this regard was received by the district manager in the form of an anonymous phone call in March this year and after the district manager informed him about it, the head office It also mentions that investigations have been initiated by

After the appointment of Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and National Housing Development Authority Chairman Mr. Rajeev Suriyarachchi to the respective positions, the related inspections were expedited.

Accordingly, the final report of the investigation conducted by the internal audit department of the authority has been released on November 17.

The investigation conducted at the corporate level has revealed that this financial fraud was committed from 2018 to the first quarter of 2022. Investigations have also been started regarding the burning and destruction of some of the documents related to the incident.

The work of 9 officials, including accountants and accounting officers, who have been found to be related to it, have been banned and the relevant ban has been done as a result of investigations. They have also been banned from entering any institution related to the housing authority. Also, the general manager says that further investigations are being conducted on 4 other officials who have been accused.

Also, the General Manager of the National Housing Development Authority,  Engineer KA Janaka states that as per the instructions of Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, special attention has been paid to the steps to be taken to prevent such frauds from happening in the future.

For that, basic measures such as storing computer data, informing the creditor through SMS by the district office regarding the amount paid on a monthly basis are currently being implemented. The general manager also says that he expects to take some more steps in this regard.