Govt. limits overseas trips of Ministers to minimise State expenditure 

• Advice Ministers to restrict travel delegation to only key officials
• Cabinet Co-Spokesman says Govt. never had money to entertain such recurrent expenses

The Government has decided to limit the overseas travel of Ministers and State Ministers to ‘essential trips’ with immediate effect, to minimise the State expenditure.

The proposal to this effect submitted at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Minister was approved by the Cabinet Ministers.

The move also advised Ministers and State Ministers to restrict the accompanied delegation to only key officials during the overseas assessment. 

“It is with great difficulty that the Government is managing the cash flow. The Government never had sufficient income then or at present, to cover the recurrent expenditure of the public sector, the Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

He said in most instances, the development activities and funds allocated for capital expenditure were slashed down to accommodate such essential expenses of the State.

When asked if his recent visit to Russia was also sponsored by the Government, he said it was purely a personal tour, noting all expenses were covered by him.

“As Parliamentarians, we are provided with a per-diem by the Government during certain foreign assignments. Being a senior Parliamentarian, throughout my political career, I have always returned the extra money saved during the trip and received a receipt for it,” he added.