SriLanka, Aug. 2 -- Two officials attached to the Norwood Divisional Secretariat were arrested by Hatton Police on Friday (31) over the alleged misappropriation of Aswesuma welfare payments, the Police Media Division said.

The arrests followed an investigation launched after the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat received a complaint alleging fraud in the Aswesuma program. Preliminary investigations revealed that the two officials had allegedly arranged for welfare payments to be fraudulently credited to the bank accounts of their relatives.

The officials were transferred with immediate effect to the Talawakelle and Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariats while investigations were underway. Police said the suspects, who had been summoned to t...