Former presidents misused foreign visits: Prime Minister

• MR spent Rs. 3,572 million of public funds for foreign visits for four years during 2010 and 2014  
• Maithripala Sirisena spent Rs. 384 million 
• during 2015 to 2019  
• Gotabaya Rajapaksa spent Rs. 126 million for two years  
• Ranil Wickremesinghe spent Rs. 533 million for foreign visits during 2023 to 2024  
• Anura Kumara has spent Rs. 1.8 million so far  

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Former Presidents have misused foreign visits, with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa having spent Rs. 3,572 million of public funds for foreign visits for four years during 2010 and 2014, whereas President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had spent only Rs. 1.8 million for his three visits so far, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said yesterday.  

Speaking during the committee stage debate on the expenditure head of the President, the Prime Minister said the highest ever expenses for foreign visits were reported in 2013, amounting to Rs. 1,144 million during the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. She said former President Maithripala Sirisena spent Rs. 384 million during 2015 to 2019, while former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa spent Rs. 126 million for two years. The Premier said former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had spent Rs. 533 million for foreign visits during 2023 to 2024.  

She said Wickremesinghe had made 33 foreign trips and that 154 persons had accompanied him during these visits.   

“Wickremesinghe even took Opposition MPs on his visits. He visited the UK to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and took ten individuals with him. A total of 18 persons had accompanied him during his visit to Japan to attend the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while 12 persons had accompanied Ranil Wickremesinghe on his visit to the UK to attend the coronation ceremony of King Charles III. 23 persons had accompanied him  during his official visit to India.

“Anura Kumara Dissanayake was accompanied by only five persons on his visit to India,” she said.  

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has spent only Rs. 1.8 million so far for his three visits,” she added.