PM reveals how Tourist Board funds were used for polls in Uva by previous regime

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe waves at supporters during his tour to Hatton over the weekend - Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday said that the funds allocated to the Tourist Board for tourism promotion were spent by the previous Government to win provincial polls through welfare societies.

Addressing a United National Party membership drive in Welimada on Saturday, the Prime Minister said it was now confirmed that the funds given for the Welfare Society of the Tourism Board for the promotion of tourism were used for the Uva Provincial Council poll.

He said the reason for the then ruling United People’s freedom Alliance’s victory in the Badulla District at the provincial polls had now been revealed.

According to the PM, a program was launched by the Tourist Board to give publicity to Sri Lanka tourism and the Rs. 10 million that had been allocated for the program was entrusted to the Welfare Society of the Tourist Board. The Welfare Society had released the funds for the polls in Passara.

He said it was no surprise that the people of Passara had voted for the UPFA as the votes were clearly purchased.

Speaking further, the Prime Minister promised to focus on reducing the debt burden on the people in next year’s budget. He said the Government in its first year had focused on getting rid of debt or reducing it substantially. Next year the Government will prepare the budget to reduce the debt burden as the debt issue was gradually being solved.

He added that the Government would work on increasing revenue to reduce the gap between income and expenditure.

The United National Party membership promotion program under the theme ‘Come those who want to move forward’ was held at the United National Party office in Nugatalawa Welimada under the patronage of Wickremesinghe.

The Prime Minister went from house to house handing over membership cards in Welimada town.

The membership promotion was organised by United National Party electoral organiser, State Minister Ravindra Samaraweera.

Ministers Harin Fernando and Ranjith Madduma Bandara were among those present at the occasion.