Visiting one’s mother cannot be compared with an overseas visit: Vijitha

• Travelling to a place within the country for personal needs cannot be compared with overseas visits by reserving seats on a flight

By Ajith Siriwardana  

Responding to claims of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visiting his mother using his official vehicle, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said yesterday that travelling to a place within the country for personal needs cannot be compared with overseas visits by reserving seats on a flight.   

Minister Herath told a weekly briefing to announce cabinet decisions that even state workers can use official vehicles for personal needs under certain procedures.  

He said this while responding to a question that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is visiting his mother in Anuradhapura and visiting funerals using official vehicle and security and what is the procedure for that.   

The Minister said attending funerals and going to a place in Sri Lanka cannot be compared with an overseas visit by reserving seats on a flight. “That is wrong. Even state employees are given provisions under certain procedures to use vehicles for their personal needs. That is stated in circulars,” he said.   

He said the issue regarding former president Ranil Wickremesinghe is misusing public property.