Costly intl. relations: Nearly Rs. 400 m extra bill for foreign jaunts

The President’s Office has incurred an additional expense of Rs. 293 million to finance foreign travel expenses to ‘strengthen’ diplomatic ties, according to the main Opposition United National Party.

UNP MP Anoma Gamage said that despite the additional costs on par with the supplementary budget 2011, there had been no visible improvement of Sri Lanka’s image in the eyes of the West.

“This is especially as a result of the Government having failed to establish the recommendations of the LLRC report.  I doubt these additional expenses incurred by the Government have contributed in a positive way,” Gamage charged.

Responding to a question posed by MP Gamage, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told Parliament that the cost of the Government’s foreign tours in 2011 to strengthen diplomatic ties was Rs. 73.3 million.

“The objective of these visits were strengthen friendly diplomatic relationship for the development of Sri Lanka and soliciting international support required to minimise foreign influence that was tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka,” he said.