Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has responded to claims by the opposition on the expenditure incurred related to the remains of the deceased Iranian Sailors, stating that the expenses are borne by the government on a ‘humanitarian basis’.
Addressing the media, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Sujeewa Senasinghe questioned the expenses for the cold freezers to store the remains of the deceased Iranian Sailors.
“We do not know what agreement was reached by the President with the USA and India. The government has got involved in an unwanted problem. There are over 80 bodies. How long will we be required to keep the bodies? How long will we have to use the cold freezers? What is the expense incurred? There are reports that the rescued sailors are wanted by Iran and the USA. We do not know how we are going to prepare for this,” he said.
Responding to the SJB MP, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the expenses for the maintenance of the bodies of the sailors and related activities are being borne by the government.
“Until those bodies remain in Sri Lanka, until the sailors remain under the responsibility of the Sri Lankan Government, and until the injured Iranian soldiers are admitted in our hospitals, the Government of Sri Lanka will take up the expenses on a humanitarian basis,” he said, in a post on social media. (Newswire)
