Lotteries Board swindles Rs. 30 mln in ‘Highway Dreams’ lottery
Sri Lanka’s elite Presidential Investigation Unit (PIU) has begun investigations into alleged financial misappropriation and malpractices running into millions of rupees at the Development Lotteries Board (DLB), Presidential Secretariat sources revealed.
The PIU had received a complaint relating to an over Rs. 30 million fraud in the procurement of 50 super luxury vehicles worth Rs. 500 million which were given away as prizes to winners of ‘Highway Dreams’ lottery.
A DLB official said they are aware of the complaint but was unable to give any other details on allegations by DLB employees that officials have taken five super luxury vehicles fraudulently in the lottery draw conducted in 2013 and 2014.
The price of a ticket of this particular lottery was Rs. 100 with the first prize being Rs. 100 million and other cash prizes in addition to 50 super luxury vehicles as prizes for winners.
This lottery was launched to coincide with the opening of Colombo-Katunayake Express High way on October 27, 2013. The second draw of the lottery was held on April 8, 2014.
It is unclear whether DLB will continue with this lottery which has given away more than Rs. 213 million, the largest lottery prize money in Sri Lankan lottery history on a single day. The proceeds of lottery sales are credited to the President’s Fund with the daily average being in the region of Rs. 170 million, DLB sources revealed.