Srilanka, March 18 -- Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne revealed in Parliament today (18) that some farmers have not received their fertilizer subsidy payments, and it has now come to light that the funds were stolen.

In response to a question raised by MP Susantha Kumara Navaratne, Karunaratne disclosed that Rs. 2,934,310 in fertilizer subsidy funds allocated to 155 farmers in the Anuradhapura district alone had been stolen.

The Deputy Minister confirmed that one officer has been arrested in connection with the theft, and a formal complaint has been filed with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Further investigations are ongoing into the incident.

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