Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara says an audit by the National Youth Services Council shows the former government spent Rs. 323 million for 14 concerts conducted under its Smart Youth Night programme in 2024.
Addressing the media, Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara said, per the audit report, a concert was held in the vicinity of the Colombo Lotus Tower on 31st December 2023 for a cost of Rs. 22 million, an event the NPP had previously raised concerns over its funding.
He alleged that, as per the audit report, it had been found that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Sports Minister Harin Fernando had misused the National Youth Services Council for their personal political agendas.
“At a time when the youth of this nation were suffering due to the economic crisis and attempting to leave the nation, these concerts were held. In 2024, the then government decided they must introduce the Smart Youth Night to every district, to promote their political agendas,” he said.
Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara said the audit report also reveals that the then government had failed to follow proper procedures and had failed to call for tenders when hosting the events.
“Once the NPP Government was elected to power we received a comprehensive report on the Smart Youth Night programme. It was found that Rs. 323 million was spent for 14 concerts. Several of the bills are back-dated. They have spent first and then back-dated the bills, after which it has been sent to the relevant organizations,” he said.
The Deputy Minister pointed out that even though the National Youth Services Council was established to build the youth of the nation, it had only been utilised to attract the children of former state leaders for political projects of the former government.
Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara noted that the audit report has confirmed that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Sports Minister Harin Fernando had misused the National Youth Services Council.
The audit report, along with all recommendations, has been forwarded to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, while Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara has instructed a formal investigation into this revelation.
Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara added that in the first week of January, the Cabinet of Ministers will decide on establishing an investigation unit to probe the misuse of money at all state institutions, including all ministries, during the tenure of the previous governments. (Newswire)
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