Information and Communication Technology State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana yesterday alleged that Rs. 2005 million from the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) had been allocated to construct temples, kovils and churches during the past one and half years without the Management Board’s approval.

The State Minister further said that it is compulsory to have the approval of the CCF Board of Management comprising the Prime Minister as the Chairman of the CCF, the Subject Minister, the Finance Minister, Hindu Religious Affairs Minister, Education Minister, Tourism Affairs Minister, Archaeology Commissioner, the Prime Minister’s Secretary andthe Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary to allocate CCF funds.

Addressing the weekly media conference held yesterday at the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, State Minister Abeywardane said that Rs. 270 million is required to pay the salaries of the CCF workers and Rs.100 million had been withdrawn from the fixed deposit to pay the salaries of last December. A Ministerial Committee had been appointed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Cultural Affairs Minister to look into the alleged financial fraud at the CCF.