Legal action to be taken over Rs. 120 million lottery scam: NLB Chairman

Colombo, Oct. 30 (Daily Mirror) - Strict legal action will be taken against the wife of MP Hesha Withanage and the sister-in-law of former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, National Lotteries Board (NLB) Chairman M.D.C.A. Perera said.

He stated that they are accused of misappropriating over Rs. 120 million by selling more than 500,000 lottery tickets as NLB district representatives.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Peace Center in Colombo yesterday, Perera also said that several other individuals, recommended by former ministers including Duminda Dissanayake and Navin Dissanayake, have failed to pay large sums to the Board.

Perera said, “A sales agent in Kuliyapitiya, recommended by former Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam in 2016, has not paid Rs. 9,878,000. Under the Public Property Act, even non-payment of Rs. 100,000 requires a complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department. Similarly, Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Nandani, recommended by MP Hesha Withanage, owes Rs. 2.1 million and has not paid despite repeated notices. The Fraud Investigation Division is now looking into these cases.”

He added that others involved include K.D. Dharmapala, who allegedly owes Rs. 2,370,000, and D.J. Perera, who owes Rs. 609,000. Both were appointed with the support of former ministers.

Perera stressed that the NLB has already paid all prize money and taxes owed, and these cases will be fully presented to the COPE committee next month.

National Lottery Board General Manager A.M. Arif also responded to claims by Asela Sampath that lottery winnings have fallen. Arif said this is false, noting that in 2024, 41 super prizes were awarded, and up to September 2025, 40 super prizes have already been given. He added that the NLB paid the largest-ever total prize money in Sri Lanka this year, amounting to Rs. 47 crores.

Arif said, “We sell around 3.7 million tickets daily, bringing in nearly Rs. 150 million every day. All our operations are transparent, and the public is treated fairly. Misleading claims about prize money and operations are unacceptable.”