Former presidents have misused the foreign visits by treating the official privileges as personal rights.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is taking every possible effort to ensure that the government does not continue to be a burden on general public.
Prime Minister made these remarks in Parliament today (27) during the Budget Committee debate on the expenditures of the President’s office, the Prime Minister’s Office, and special units.
Further addressing the matter, the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
"The speeches of opposition Ministers of Parliament clearly show their lack of understanding on the work plan of the current government. The opposition comments on some of the programme initiated by the government as if final decisions have already been made. The government is taking steps towards a new political culture through 2025 maiden budget.
The opposition party declared for constitutional amendments. The Government’s policy statement clearly states that we will carry out the constitutional reforms with the participation of the general public. The constitution must belong to the general public.
The special units of expenditures addressed in today’s Budget Committee debate have clearly outlined the implementation of new political culture. However, the opposition has failed to understand this vision and criticizes individual matters.
The government should not be a burden to public. Previous governments have functioned in ways that burdened the general public. Not only the public sector but also the government itself has become a burden on people. Ministers, prime ministers, and presidents in this country have become a burden on people. Hence, the main objective of this government is to lift that burden from the shoulders of the general public. That is why special attention was drawn to the expenditures of each individual unit. A government operates on funds that are directly and indirectly collected from general public through taxes, and we are accountable for every rupee.
One of the key understandings we have as a government is that considering positions and privileges as personal entitlements leads to fraud and corruption. The arrogance that arises from the power gained through positional privileges is extremely dangerous. Everyone, not just politicians, must understand that privileges belong to the position, not the individual.
Former presidents have misused the privileges associated with their positions. A prime example is the expenditures that incurred for foreign visits. During 2010-2014, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has spent LKR 3,572 million, during 2015-2019, the former President Maithripala Sirisena has spent LKR 384, during 2020-2022, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has spent LKR 126 million and during 2023-2024, the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has spent LKR 533 million on foreign visits.
However, during 2024 September to 2025 February period of time, the current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has spent only LKR 1.8 million on foreign visits and it has clearly demonstrated that how public funds are being managed by the current government.
Even though a necessary delegation must accompany president on a courtesy call on abroad, the issues may arise when individuals outside the essential delegation are included for foreign visits under the guise of bribery.
