Cost of President’s foreign travel: Govt. gives breakdown

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Government Whip Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, speaking in parliament on Friday, gave a breakdown of expenses incurred during the three state visits by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in response to claims that these visits could not be undertaken with 1.8 million rupees as stated by the government.

Jayatissa said Rs. 1.2 million was spent on the President’s visit to India, Rs. 386,000 on the China visit, and Rs. 279,970 on the Dubai visit.

He explained that the President had received free air tickets for the China and Dubai visits, while Rs. 386,000 was spent on air tickets for the India trip.

The total expenses borne by the Presidential Secretariat for the India visit amounted to Rs. 1,222,000, including the air tickets. “This sum also covered plaques presented to state leaders,” Jayatissa said.

He further stated that President Dissanayake was allocated a per diem of USD 2,055 for the China visit and USD 960 for the Dubai visit, but he returned the entire amount to the Presidential Secretariat.

Jayatissa said opposition MPs could not comprehend how President Dissanayake managed three foreign visits for Rs. 1.8 million, because they had come to believe that it is acceptable for a head of state to waste collosal amounts of public

“These MPs have no problem with formee President Mahinda Rajapaksa spending Rs. 3,572 million on overseas trips during his tenure.

He noted that the Rs. 3,572 million represented only the expenses borne by the Presidential Secretariat, with additional costs covered by various ministries.

“We will disclose the full amount spent by ministries on foreign visits,” he added.