CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Reply To:
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No contribution was made by govt. for fmr prez’s foreign tours
Whilst Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardana admitted that the Sri Lankan government footed the bill to provide former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to fly to Thailand from Singapore in a chartered flight last week, Information Department said government made no contribution for it.
The Department said that the former president had spent his own private funds on his foreign visits.
Responding to a journalist at yesterday’s post-cabinet news briefing, Minister Gunawardana said the Sri Lanka government paid the bill as it was the responsibility of the government.
“Each and every executive president retired and widows of those passed away enjoy benefits, privileges and special facilities, and they are also paid an allowance under the ‘President Entitlement Act No. 4 of 1986’. Therefore, the government is committed to pay former President Rajapaksa’s bills,” he added.
It was under the provisions of this Act, that former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mrs. Hema Premadasa are provided with a residence, allowance and other facilities, Minister Gunawardana stressed.
If and when former President Rajapaksa returns home in future, the government must provide him with all facilities and privileges entitled to a retired President from the public purse, he added. (Sandun A. Jayasekera and Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
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