Sat, 20 Apr 2024 Today's Paper

Govt. spends Rs.8.3 bn on embassies in 2017: AG

18 June 2018 09:00 pm - 14     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe said today the government had spent Rs.8.3 billion to maintain embassies last year but that there was no mechanism to assess the benefits gained for the country.

He said with the assistance of all Sri Lankan embassies the Auditor General's Department was preparing a report on the diplomatic service.

“We spend billions of rupees to maintain embassies. But there is no mechanism to assess the benefits or the services rendered to the country by way of improving its image or the promotion of tourism and trade in the countries where the embassies are based,” Mr. Wijesinghe said at a seminar in Colombo. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 14

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Living Abroad Monday, 18 June 2018 10:57 PM

    You are honest in saying that there is no mechanism to measure any benefits to the country,but in the Western countries they would artificially create a measure and fool its people giving precise monetary gains in a such situation.

    Sihab Monday, 18 June 2018 11:50 PM

    Many (politically appointed) officers attached to the high commissions/embassies/consulates enjoys their holidays in the respective countries on expenses of the poor people money.On the completion of their tenure of duty, they get duty concession vehicle permits and sell for millions.These are the benefits that Sri Lanka receives from its diplomatic service.

    sHeHaN Tuesday, 19 June 2018 12:53 AM

    It is much easier to measure the benefits gained by these embassies to individual diplomats and staff from the Ambassador to the peons and drivers. Most embassy’s staff who are attached to the foreign ministry are as a reward for political gain support or close relationships with politicians. These staff simply enjoy life in these countries specially European and East Asia by enjoying high standards of living and international education for their children whilst many gain citizenship’s in European counties after working in the embassy for 5 years.

    Ceylon Tuesday, 19 June 2018 01:18 AM

    How much spent for foriegn minister marapana's luxury five stay hotel expensess and first class air travels???.what work he did for these billions ????.no dobt this money cant earn and this luxury never had as a lawyer.law practice has to work hard,thus job no work but all come free.

    Ceylon Tuesday, 19 June 2018 01:29 AM

    I foriegn travel iinstitution published recently srilankan government has done nothing and never made any effort to upgrade its passport status while other middle income countries doing their best to create on arrival visa for their citizens for easy travel to expand,trade,education,health,business,tourism,people to people contacts.lankans cant go evem to india more than 2 times per year.lankans even cant travel to poor bangladesh,without visa,need killos of documents.to get visa.

    LKcricket Tuesday, 19 June 2018 01:44 AM

    The statement made by AG is unrealistic as far as politicians are concerned. The henchmen of politicians make and their families having government paid fun and holidays. That is the whole purpose of Embassies and High Commissions as far as Sri Lanka is concerned,

    Ranjitdea Tuesday, 19 June 2018 04:07 AM

    There are so much of staff (political appointees) doing nothing in our embassies

    Ajja93 Tuesday, 19 June 2018 04:26 AM

    Our embassies should negotiate with respective governments for on arrival visa or visa free movement for Sri Lankan passport holders, That is what Singapore did for their citizens. Our embassies are retirement home doing nothing for the country spending public money

    Dilshan Tuesday, 19 June 2018 05:28 AM

    For sure, there is no qualified diplomat in the Sri Lanka embassy in Tokyo who cares about motherland. A bunch of pencil pushers!

    Shehan Tuesday, 19 June 2018 05:46 AM

    This pathetic situation prevailing due to political appointees to overseas missions as well as inefficient staff in most of times.

    Arnold Tuesday, 19 June 2018 07:02 AM

    Half that amount would have been spent on accommodating and entertaining the visiting VIPs from Sri Lanka.

    Embassy Tuesday, 19 June 2018 07:34 AM

    Cut down the staff by 50%.

    DG Tuesday, 19 June 2018 07:47 AM

    There has to be an evaluation of output/ benefits against costs may be quarterly and remove those inefficient ones without wasting public/ taxpayers money. Politicized service.

    johan Tuesday, 19 June 2018 12:41 PM

    Can the AG give us comparison figures of the previous years as well


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment




Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

MIRROR CRICKET

More