Having placed their signatures saying that they have come for lottery draw ... big wigs pocket crores of money!

Having placed their signatures saying that they have come for lottery draw ... big wigs pocket crores of money!

Finance Ministry sources reveal that the top management of National Lotteries Board have pinched a sum of Rs. 8.1 million (almost Rs. 8,146,750) across a methodology known as 'dinum edime deemana' during the first 10 months of this year.

The top management and attendant staff of the National Lotteries Board which is one of the major

enterprises under the Finance Ministry has pinched a massive amount of monies through the method of 'dinum edime deemana' in this manner. They have acquired this money within a period of less than an hour during the draw by appearing on behalf of a security board. The draw concerned is broadcast on a daily basis over rupavahini in which case a director of National Lotteries Board should definitely be present when the draw is in progress in the security board placing the signature thereby.

During the period January to October this year the chairman and 4 directors have taken Rs. 8.1 (approximately Rs. 8,146,750). One director had refused to accept the only sum of Rs. 100,000 allotted to him and had donated it to an employee of National Lotteries Board who had children but were without shelter. When the total sum of money was calculated separately, the chairman within the first ten months of the year has acquired a sum of Rs. 1.36 million and it has exceeded Rs. 2.3 million (close upon 2,355,500) which a working director has taken. The rest of the 3 directors  have collected Rs. 1,407,250 and Rs. 1,395,000 and Rs. 1,629,000. The massive sum of monies thus grabbed by managers, deputy general managers, assistant general managers and other members of the staff reach a  total figure of Rs. 41 million (approximately Rs. 41,711,250).

A report on the monies so taken has been received by the Ministry of Finance and this report has made officials of the ministry 'hit the ceiling', it was understood. Finance Ministry sources further reveal that in certain circumstances the allowances of 'dinum edeeme deemana' have been acquired when only by checking the manner in which the draw is conducted and only by placing the signature on the relevant papers.

Related sources mentioned that in future the method of the  draw would introduce a novel methodology to be employed by the Finance Ministry to conduct this programme. It is further reported that a 'dinum edeeme deemana' methodology such as this would not be in operation in relation to other lotteries connected to the main State enterprise of Development Lotteries Board either.