Maithri, Mahinda spent more than Rs. 60 million for two foreign tours

20 February 2025 07:12 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 24 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, Feb 20 (Daily Mirror) - Former President Maithirpala Sirisena had spent Rs. 50 million for an official tour to the USA back in 2018, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachnadra told Parliament today.

“Former President Sirisena had taken 77 persons on this tour which included a total of nine Ministers including the then First Lady. The official delegation had 28 members, two protocol officers, 13 security officers and 28 media personnel. The total cost of this tour has been Rs. 50.4 million, the Deputy Minister said.

“Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had taken 72 members on a two day official visit to India on February 8th and 9th incurring a total cost of Rs. 9.5 million. The official delegation had been 12 while 11 additional people had gone apart from the official delegation. Five ladies in attendance and five media personnel, two separate security squads has also gone to provide security to the President and the First Lady on the same tour,” he also revealed.

“This is only a few out of a number of foreign tours,” the Deputy Minister added.

He also said almost all MPs in the previous Parliament have been given transferable vehicle permits.

Comments - 24

Lakmal Kahawela Thursday, 20 February 2025 07:22 PM

Is this is called Yahapalana of Maithripala

0 6

Nihal S Thursday, 20 February 2025 07:23 PM

This is why our country is in the current state. Can NPP as the Government of the day to bring legislations to prevent repeat of these. For an example, can't we limit the number of unofficial participants on tax payer funded visits. Mahinda used to take his entire family on foreign tours and wasted public money. Why do we have to cope? Pls fix the rules.

0 12

Diana Thursday, 20 February 2025 07:26 PM

MR Five ladies in attendance to massage his dick. Enjoyed while it lasted , now still wants to continue in politics. These are retired Presidents still financed by the Treasury. What a wastage of money.

1 15

Nilame Thursday, 20 February 2025 07:37 PM

Corrupt to the core. This was at a time when the country did not have money to import bare essentials ! There are more skeletons in their cupboards. They say 'honda honda sellam eliwena yame'

0 14

Spartacus Thursday, 20 February 2025 08:03 PM

There is no limits to the arrogance of not only Mahinda, but also each and every Minister that he had including provincial level ministers. Still people of this country will lick the feet of this tyrant. We still provide him and his family members full luxury living, security and finance after all what he has done. Because we are a country of ponnayas.

0 13

Ravi Thursday, 20 February 2025 08:35 PM

You mee to say they went on safari tours wearing national suite? They brought about bonding with foreign high delegates. What have you done so far?

7 3

maha Thursday, 20 February 2025 08:58 PM

should recover additional expenditures

0 3

Peter Perera Thursday, 20 February 2025 09:25 PM

We are quite aware of the wrong doings in the past and that is the main reason the present government was elected. But not to keep on mentioning the same thing over and over what past politicians did. We are tired of hearing. Also the new government should not justify what what they are doing now just because of the past governments.

2 8

Kinza Majid Thursday, 20 February 2025 09:47 PM

WOW!!! Bring on more fascinating news like these to hoodwink the foolish us who voted for you! Let the real problems just lie around, who needs to live a decent life anyway, right? DROP THIS RAJAPAKSHA MANTRA FOR GOODNESS'S SAKE, WON'T YOU? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

6 5

A srilankan from Rome Friday, 21 February 2025 12:13 AM

Check also the tour in Rome and Milan…it was a huge wastage of money…

0 11

Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 21 February 2025 12:23 AM

Yes, that way , AKD is only taking few and they work on country work round the clock. Previous ones mainly went on shopping tours with friends and relatives. That is to be appreciated but they should enact regulations to make such trips with so many illegal . Otherwise, after AKD , they will start again. You see , people in this country will always change the Leader every 5 years regardless of what has been done. But legislation will prevent bad governance to some extent

0 10

Mr WEERASEKARA Friday, 21 February 2025 12:25 AM

they need more security to protect the stolen billions. more the stolen money more the security they need

0 8

ROHINI Friday, 21 February 2025 03:02 AM

Good to expose these irresponsible people. They don't give up. They are trying to make a come back ,with all the losers forming a coalition.AREN'T THESE PEOPLE-ACCOUNTABLE? Is it possible to recover some of the beyond the budget expenses from them? Congratulation to those who expose these individuals. Keep up the good work .we

0 11

Wijebahu Friday, 21 February 2025 03:07 AM

This type of information adds zero value to the country now, rather promotes divisions in the society. People voted these leaders to run the country, just like you guys. If you want to dig no value past, why dont start burning buses, Tea factories, transformers etc.

5 1

E Sarath Friday, 21 February 2025 04:30 AM

No wonder, today our country is in this economic mess. We are burdened by the debt trap due to financial mismanagement and still struggling to pull out from the current economic abyss. It is clear that these leaders have knowingly misused public funds for their own benefit, pleasure and enjoyment including their henchmen. It’s apparent that they didn’t have even a minuscule of understanding about how the life styles of average citizen leading a hand to mouth life and struggling to make ends meet. Very pathetic, painful and disgusting! In the long run, “you reap what you sow”“The mills of the Gods grind slowly, but they grind small”.

0 7

Aram Friday, 21 February 2025 06:14 AM

Those are the worst days of rule that brought srilanka bankrupt finally

0 4

A Supporter of MR and MS Friday, 21 February 2025 06:36 AM

Mahinda and Maitri are great leaders. First of all, they wanted to set up world records of number of foreign tours. They also wanted to carry hundreds of their stooges with them when they traveled. They also did not spend from their own pockets and let the public have the opportunity to pay which was also a great act because the public can say they have made contributions to these records.

0 4

Maitri and Mahinda helped save millions by losing? Friday, 21 February 2025 08:30 AM

These guys are very generous with public money. We the voters are wondering as to how they can sit at home, because their wings are clipped now. Can we say they helped the NPP Govt. save Rs.60 millions by losing the election? And we still blame them?

0 1

Rt. Rev. Mark Anthony Samarasinghe Friday, 21 February 2025 09:53 AM

Yes, we know even Sirisena had used Helicopters to go to his toilets, what a crime. Both Mahinda and Sirisena sucked our blood, and their final days are going to be very bad. God is watching everything and reward them for their wrong doings.

0 3

DOT Friday, 21 February 2025 10:35 AM

Who approved it. What is then role of the permeate secretary ?

0 1

Guppi Friday, 21 February 2025 11:44 AM

I think Maithripaalaya gobbled down Caju worth of 50 million!

0 1

S P Friday, 21 February 2025 02:09 PM

What a coincidence? Government is in a difficult situation due to frequent shooting incidents lately (another one today at Wattala) and why not bring up bits and pieces of news like this from their ‘news banks’ to divert the attention? The friendly social media will complete the job by willingly commenting on. It follows an obviously set pattern. Too transparent!

0 0

Soori Maripalan Friday, 21 February 2025 02:16 PM

Kaalakanni while people have no food or medicine! Rental for 50 laks per moth. Thopita Hena Hatha!!

0 0

Cecil Hedwige Friday, 21 February 2025 05:11 PM

Maithripala was behaving like a tourist and not as a President during the Yahapalana regime. He wasted our poor people"s money on extravagant tours.

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