MP alleges Rs. 2.1 Bn loss in cattle import project involving official holding top Govt. position

• MP warns current administration to be cautious of opportunistic officials who frequently switch political allegiances for personal gain  

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Allegations of large-scale financial mismanagement have surfaced again, with opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake claiming that the Sri Lankan government lost more than Rs. 2.1 billion in a controversial cattle import project that ran from 2014 to 2020. The project, reportedly carried out without calling for tenders, has become the centre of renewed scrutiny, as a key official involved remains in a high-ranking government position.   
Speaking in Parliament, MP Dassanayake alleged that Anton Perera, who played a role in the cattle import project, is currently serving as Chairman of the National Lotteries Board. Perera is now under fire for drawing Rs. 20,000 per lottery draw as a member of the observing panel—an amount significantly higher than the previous standard fee of Rs. 7,000.   
“There’s no legal barrier preventing the Chairman from being on the monitoring panel,” said Dassanayake. “However, the issue is the hike in panel fees that began once he started participating. It’s a clear misuse of state resources.”   
Dassanayake also raised concerns about Perera’s past behaviour during his tenure as Secretary of the Uva Provincial Council, accusing him of misconduct at official functions. “He used to get drunk and behave inappropriately, including attempting to approach a young girl who was the daughter of a senior police officer. That incident nearly caused a major scandal. I had to intervene personally, as Chief Minister at the time, to prevent further damage to the Council’s reputation,” he added.   
The MP warned the current administration to be cautious of opportunistic officials who frequently switch political allegiances for personal gain. “These are the kind of individuals who compromise governance and integrity,” he said.   
In a related development, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Nishantha Samaraweera cited an audit report confirming that the government incurred a loss of Rs. 2.1 billion through the cattle import project. He noted that tenders had not been called for during the process and named former Minister Lakshman Wasantha Perera, former Minister P. Harrison along with another ex-Minister from the Moneragala District as individuals implicated in the scandal.   
As the controversy unfolds, calls are mounting for accountability and thorough investigation into both past and present conduct of public officials involved.