The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has stopped the awarding of the first 4,000 flats under the 'Gedhoruveriya' scheme.
The process was stopped pending an investigation into complaints submitted to the watchdog.
The complaints alleged that the list of recipients was published after points were awarded in violation of the evaluation criteria and without offering the opportunity to lodge complaints in order to provide undue gain for certain people, the ACC said.
"The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure was instructed today not to carry out any work on signing agreements for the flats to be awarded under the scheme or to do any work related to handing over the flats without providing an adequate period to submit complaints and without looking into those complaints," the ACC said in a message sent to the media.
The 4,000 flats in the first round are to be awarded to applicants eligible for three-bedroom apartments who scored above 76 marks and to applicants eligible for two-bedroom apartments who scored above 73 marks.
After the publication of the list of recipients, a group of disgruntled applicants gathered and protested at the Housing Ministry today.
In response to growing complaints from the public, the ministry has invited complaints with a deadline of November 9. Complaints must be submitted through the Gedhoruveriya portal.
