Responding to a question during a Cabinet media briefing, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said he revealed only the list of Members of Parliament who obtained large sums from the President’s Fund, not the names of artists who received financial assistance.

He made this remark in response to a question about whether he regretted mentioning the name of the late Malini Fonseka in Parliament as a recipient of Rs 5.5 million from the President’s Fund, alongside a list of parliamentarians who had received significant amounts from the same fund.

“What I mentioned in Parliament were the names of MPs and ministers who received money from the fund,” Jayatissa said. “There were actors and actresses who also received financial assistance, but I did not disclose their names.”

When asked directly about the Rs 5.5 million reportedly granted to Malini Fonseka—a beloved actress and former MP—Jayatissa declined to comment. “I think… I hope I’m not going to talk about that here,” he said.

A journalist then pressed further, asking whether he felt any remorse over the matter. Jayatissa maintained, “I revealed information related to Rs 1.22 billion disbursed to MPs and ministers. That is all I can say at this moment.”

Malini Fonseka, widely regarded as the “Queen of Sinhala Cinema,” passed away on 25 May at the age of 78. The grant reportedly awarded to her from the President’s Fund has sparked debate, with some questioning whether such financial disclosures should have included her name given her status as an artist and national icon.