Two officials at the Norwood Divisional Secretariat have been remanded in custody following accusations of misappropriating nearly Rs. 3 million from the Aswesuma welfare programme between 2023 and 2025.

Two female officials working at the Norwood Divisional Secretariat were arrested on Friday and remanded until August 4 on suspicion of misappropriating welfare funds meant for vulnerable citizens. The suspects include the former head of the Aswesuma division at the secretariat and another staff member. Acting Hatton Magistrate S. Parthiban ordered their remand after they were presented in court by investigators from the Hatton Police Division's Special Investigation Unit.

According to the inquiry, preliminary audits uncovered evidence suggesting that between 2023 and 2025, payments designated for Aswesuma beneficiaries were diverted into bank accounts belonging to relatives and associates of the suspects. The funds were subsequently withdrawn by the accused officials. The investigation began after Norwood Divisional Secretary Sameera Gamlath lodged a formal complaint with police following the discovery of financial irregularities during an initial audit.

The scheme initially came to attention when Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Thushari Thennekoon received an anonymous letter reporting that several welfare recipients had not received their entitled payments. A ten-member audit team from the district secretariat and Ministry of Finance subsequently confirmed the alleged fraud. Investigators documented that beneficiaries who visited the office inquiring about missing payments were allegedly told the funds would be credited pending approval and were discouraged from returning.

Three additional officials have been suspended based on investigative findings, though their specific roles in the matter remain under examination. The audit team continues its work at the Norwood office, having already recorded statements from Grama Niladhari officers and Aswesuma division staff. Member of Parliament Manjula Suraweera Arachchi has announced plans to conduct urgent audits at other divisional secretariats across the Nuwara Eliya District to determine whether similar irregularities exist in Aswesuma and Samurdhi welfare distributions.