Who paid for President’s private entourage to the UK

(December, 16, Colombo- London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse went on an unofficial visit to the United Kingdom to attend a function at the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth where his son Yoshitha who had completed one year’s training.

Asked whether the visit of President Rajapaksa and his entourage to Britain was an official one, the spokesman said it was a private affair (Sunday Times 16/12 Sri Lanka). The Sunday Times reported : "The Sri Lanka Government made a request that the President’s visit to Britain for the passing out parade of his son to be considered an official one though it was a private visit. As he is the President as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces he was allowed to take part as the chief guest at the event," according to the spokesman.

Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and President’s wife too attended. ‘Unlike President Rajapaksa who flew from Tokyo to London, the navy chief flew from Colombo to be on hand at the Royal Naval Academy in Dartmouth for Subaltern Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s passing-out’ reported the Sunday Times.

According to information, the President did not tie himself with any official engagements during his visit and he did not even meet the British Foreign Secretary.

Questions are now been asked who funded his, his wife’s and the government officials who accompanied him including the Army Commander trip to the UK. All those who went have gone on first class tickets. It is unclear from where the funding had come from- whether from President’s own pocket or from the government treasury. Only benefit the President Rajapakse achieved was to meet his son in the UK and being the Chief Guest at the event at a huge cost to the Sri Lankan government and from where the funds had come is not clear.

President’s salary is paid in ever depleting Sri Lankan rupees and could ill afford such lavish spending. Such liberal uses of funds are expected to be from the government treasury which will not come under any scrutiny as the President is also the Finance Minister of the country.