A former Prime Minister was granted Rs. 29.8 million from the President’s Fund for medical treatment in 2012 and 2014, of which Rs. 13.7 million was provided on a recoverable basis. However, this amount remains unrecovered as of June 2025, according to a recent audit report.

The audit of the President’s Fund for the year ending 31 December 2024 has uncovered serious concerns regarding the disbursement of medical and financial assistance amounting to Rs. 131,371,110 to 56 Members of Parliament and Provincial Council members.

The audit has not listed the names of the politicians in question.

The findings, listed under the section titled “Transactions of Contentious Nature”, revealed that these payments had been made between 2005 and 2024 without adequate consideration of mandatory eligibility criteria.

Audit test checks revealed that the Fund failed to fully assess several required factors before providing assistance to the 56 politicians. These overlooked elements included formal applications for financial support, verification of recipients’ income limits, reports from Divisional Secretaries, assessment of financial assets, and adherence to the maximum limit of medical assistance permitted.

In response, the management of the President’s Fund informed auditors that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently investigating the matter and that appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome. The audit recommended that future actions strictly comply with existing laws, rules, and regulations.

The audit also revealed instances in which the President’s Fund had provided financial assistance on a recoverable basis, despite no provision for such loans under the President’s Fund Act.

Among these was a case where a Member of Parliament received Rs. 10.9 million in medical assistance on a repayment basis following a directive from the Secretary to the President dated 2 February 2015. Similar to the case involving a former Prime Minister, this amount had not been recovered by June 2025.

The management of the Fund confirmed that both transactions are under CID investigation, with further steps to be determined once the probe concludes.

The audit reiterated that the President’s Fund is mandated to use its resources strictly for purposes such as poverty alleviation, the advancement of education and religion, and rewarding individuals who have rendered service to the nation — and not for granting recoverable loans or unauthorised financial benefits.