{"id":163833,"date":"2016-06-14T02:47:29","date_gmt":"2016-06-13T21:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=163833"},"modified":"2016-06-14T15:43:16","modified_gmt":"2016-06-14T10:13:16","slug":"we-have-lost-billions-of-rupees-because-of-basil-and-sajith-sb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/we-have-lost-billions-of-rupees-because-of-basil-and-sajith-sb\/","title":{"rendered":"We Have Lost Billions Of Rupees Because Of Basil And Sajith \u2013 SB"},"content":{"rendered":"

Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare, S. B. Dissanayake<\/span><\/a> has accused former Minister Basil Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a> and incumbent Minister Sajith Premadasa<\/span><\/a> as two of the main culprits who have driven the Samurdhi movement to the ground, due to their actions which has resulted in the movement losing billions of rupees.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of Basil Rajapaksa we lost around 7 to 8 billion rupees, and even due to the actions of Sajith Premadasa, we have incurred a further loss of 3 to 4 billion rupees,\u201d he told a meeting of Samurdhi officers in Badulla on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Dissanayake added that the movement suffered further financial instability due to certain decisions taken during the past few years, where loans were given to people who went overseas and loans were given for local politicians to purchase bicycles, all which, according to him had contributed to its current situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must stop this and take every effort necessary to develop this movement and not let it suffer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dissanayake added that it was time for everyone to change their mentality if the country was to go forward. \u201cIf we don\u2019t change the mentality, we can\u2019t go forward,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n