Sri Lanka, Sept. 20 -- Investigators probing alleged fraud in the Aswesuma welfare payments at the Norwood Divisional Secretariat believe the case could be the largest such fraud detected in Sri Lanka to date, with suspected losses approaching Rs.30 million.

The investigation has also uncovered allegations that State employees obtained Aswesuma payments intended for low-income families by using the details of elderly persons who had died, according to investigators familiar with the inquiry.

One investigator described the Norwood case to the Sunday Observer as the "most serious and largest" Aswesuma fraud uncovered so far.

The Welfare Benefits Board's Audit Division has already uncovered major irregularities in Aswesuma payments at th...