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Government clarifies how AKD visited three countries at a cost of Rs. 1.8 mn
Colombo, Feb 28 (Daily Mirror) - Responding to allegations of how President Anura Kumara Dissanayake managed to visit three countries for just Rs. 1.8 million, Chief Government Whip Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that only Rs. 1.2 million was spent for the Indian visit, Rs. 386,000 for the China visit and Rs. 279,970 for the Dubai visit.
He told Parliament that the President had reveived free air tickets for the China and Dubai visits while Rs. 386,000 was spent for air tickets for the India visit.
The Minister said the total expenses borne by the Presidential Secretariat for the India visit amounts to Rs. 1,222,000 including the air tickets valued at Rs. 386,000.
"This included the plaques shared with the state leaders," he said.
He said the President had received per diem of USD 2,055 for the China visit and USD 960 for the Dubai visit and that he returned all the money to the Presidential Secreatariat.
Jayatissa said it is surprising that the MPs are unable to realise how President Dissanayake visited three countries at a cost of Rs. 1.8 million but realised how Mahinda Rajapaksa spent Rs. 3,572 million for his foreign visits.
He said Rs. 3,572 million was only the expenses borne by the Presidential Secretariat and that more expenses had been borne by the respective Ministries.
"We will reveal the expenses borne by the respective Ministries for foreign visits," he said.
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