Matale District MP Rohini Kaviratne has strongly defended the late actress and former MP Malini Fonseka, denying claims that she misused funds from the President’s Fund and releasing official documents to support her claim.
In a statement issued today (May 28), Kaviratne said Fonseka was deeply distressed after her name was mentioned in Parliament as someone who had allegedly misused public funds.
She said the allegations were baseless and had caused significant emotional pain to the veteran actress in her final months.
To counter the accusations, MP Kaviratne released a series of documents, including Fonseka’s official request letter for medical assistance, medical reports, an airline ticket, application forms, and the official approval from the President’s Fund. She stated that these confirm that the support was obtained legally and transparently.
“Malini Fonseka was not a thief. She made a formal request to the President of Sri Lanka for medical assistance, and the approval was granted through the proper procedure. These documents are evidence of that,” Kaviratne said.
She also clarified that the assistance granted to Fonseka, amounting to Rs. 5.5 million was approved in 2022 under the administration of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, not during her tenure in Parliament.
“She was not one of the so-called ‘225 thieves.’ What she endured was unfair and deeply painful. Let us remember her with dignity,” she added.
Malini Fonseka passed away earlier this week following a prolonged illness. In addition to her celebrated career in cinema, she also served as a national list MP from 2010 to 2015 under the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration.
The controversy stems from a parliamentary statement made months ago by Government Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, where he cited that Rs. 1.22 billion had been allocated from the President’s Fund to various Members of Parliament. Following Fonseka’s death, his comments resurfaced online, with some interpreting them as referring to the late actress.
However, Minister Jayatissa clarified on May 27 that his statement was being misinterpreted. He stated that his intention was never to single out Malini Fonseka but to highlight the broader use of the fund by politicians. He named MPs such as Keheliya Rambukwella, Rajitha Senaratne, D.M. Jayaratne, and Dayasiri Jayasekara as among the recipients.
“I merely presented the facts in Parliament on the funds received by MPs. This had nothing to do with Malini Fonseka,” he said at the Cabinet media briefing. (Newswire)
