MR Spent Over Rs 3.5B on Foreign Tours – PM

Dr Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament yesterday (27), while disclosing the total expenditure incurred on foreign trips by former Presidents.

Addressing Parliament during the Committee Stage debate on the Budget for the financial year 2025, the Prime Minister stated that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (2010–2014) had spent Rs 3,572 million on his foreign travels.

Providing a breakdown of the expenses, she outlined the costs incurred by each former President as follows:

Mahinda Rajapaksa (2010–2014): Rs 3,572 million

Maithripala Sirisena (2015–2019): Rs 384 million

Gotabaya Rajapaksa (2020–2022): Rs 126 million

Ranil Wickremesinghe (2023–2024): Rs 533 million

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (September 2024–February 2025): Rs 1.8 million

Dr Amarasuriya noted that the highest expenditure during this period was recorded in 2013, when President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s foreign trips cost the State an astonishing Rs 1,144 million.

She further highlighted that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had undertaken 33 foreign tours, accompanied by a total of 154 individuals. In contrast, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had made just three foreign trips, with an entourage of only 11 persons.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that while it was necessary for a President to be accompanied by relevant officials during official visits, concerns had been raised over whether those who accompanied previous Presidents were truly essential personnel. Citing an example, she alleged that during former President Wickremesinghe’s foreign visits, even members of the opposition had been included “as a form of political bribery.”

Dr Amarasuriya emphasised that the National People’s Power (NPP) government aimed to break away from past governance practices that placed a heavy financial burden on the people. She stressed that alleviating this burden was a key priority of the current administration.

“Not only the public service but even the government itself should not be a burden on the people,” she added.

She further remarked that MPs, ministers, and heads of state in the past had contributed to this burden. “That is why we are paying special attention and exercising caution regarding this issue. The country is still recovering from a severe economic crisis, and during such a period, a government elected by the people cannot afford to add to their hardships.”